MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Patterson
Parliament House was more of a minefield than usual today when Australia's
Special Representative for Demining and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Senator Kay Patterson, joined students and fellow
parliamentarians in a demining simulation on the grounds of Parliament
House.
During the game, participants were blindfolded and led through a symbolic
minefield to raise awareness about the fight against landmines, and the
challenges faced by people living in mine-affected countries.
The simulation is part of the Destroy-A-Minefield campaign, in which
the Australian Government is working in partnership with World Vision and the
Australian public to clear landmines in Cambodia.
Senator Patterson, who recently visited Cambodia, said there are still four
to six million mines scattered around the country.
'Landmines are indiscriminate weapons that don't distinguish between war or
peace, soldier or civilian. They remain in the ground long after a conflict is
over - on farms, near schools, outside someone's house. Last year, landmines
caused around 65 casualties each month in Cambodia,' Senator Patterson said.
Reflecting this number, 65 balloons were used in the minefield. At the end of
the game, they were burst to symbolise the destruction of minefields and the
rebuilding of lives.
Participating in the game were World Vision Study Tour finalists, selected
for their contribution to World Vision and the 40-hour famine.
Senator Patterson praised the students' involvement in raising awareness
about landmines. 'Thanks to the efforts of people like these students, World
Vision has already raised almost $400,000 towards clearing the mines. The
Australian Government is contributing one dollar for every two dollars raised by
the public.'
With contributions from the campaign, Australia has helped clear the grounds
of an orphanage just outside Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh. In clearing the
land, an Australian-led demining team found 40 unexploded bombs in the area.
Australian aid has helped cut by two thirds the number of Cambodians killed or
maimed by landmines each year
In a further demonstration of the importance the Government places on mine
action Senator Patterson also announced a contribution of $1,800,000 to the
International Committee of the Red Cross for relief assistance for victims of
landmines. The funds will be used for surgical treatment for mine victims and
rehabilitation of amputees in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bosnia, Afghanistan,
Tajikistan, Kenya and Angola.
Through the Australian Government's overseas aid program, Australia is a
major supporter of demining, victim support and mine awareness. Australia has
committed $100 million towards mine action activities around the world from 1996
- 2005.
Media contacts:
Helen Verlander (Senator Patterson's office) 02 6277 3800 / 0409 034 403
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489