Message from the president

The Cambodia Mines-remove Campaign will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its founding in 2013. I was only a member when it started, though thankfully we now have more than a thousand members around Japan. The CMC has contributed to school projects in rural Cambodia and provided education opportunities to children living in landmine-affected areas. Also, “The Voice of Heart”, our long-run popular radio programme which is specially made for mines/ERW victims becomes thoroughly entrenched in local communities and plays a key role in providing information on job training centres, mine risk awareness and preventive education, as well as an important tool for mental health care. Those projects could not be achieved without any supports and helps from people in this nation. At this moment, there are still more than 70 million of landmines remaining around the globe, and of those, 6 million are left in Cambodia. Unfortunately, mine related accidents have been happening in some parts of the world every day and 40% of the victims are innocent women and children. However, I can see the clear progress on our activities that the numbers of mine/ERW related accidents have decreased since 1998. In the end, I would like to thank all who supports CMC and our activities, and volunteer members who work tirelessly to raise awareness about landmines and poverty in Cambodia and our successive local staff who have carried out missions under the harsh conditions since 2004. The CMC will continue pursuing a goal of peace in Cambodia as citizens of the earth.

Cambodia Mines-remove Campaign　 president Kenji Otani

President’s Profile

Born in 1951 in Fukuoka, Japan. BA in Law at Kyushu University. During the time when the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China was being concluded, he played a key role in leading a peace movement to improve the failed relationship between both countries. As a self-made business person, he had run several businesses in printing, publishing, event advertising and a paragliding instructing.

• President of the Cambodia Mines-remove Campaign (CMC)
• Chief Director of Cambodia Merchandise Consultant Office
• An advisor of the Asia Business Centre
• President of Fukuoka Historical Research Association