Minesweeping machines support Colombian Army effort of humanitarian de-mining

You are here: [Skip Breadcrumbs navigation bar] Home> Human Rights> Minesweeping machines support Colombian Army effort of humanitarian de-mining

[End Breadcrumbs navigation bar]

Content

Minesweeping machines support Colombian Army effort of humanitarian de-mining

February 22, 2010

The Japanese government delivered to Colombian army two minesweeping machines worth $1,444,000, to support the de-mining, detection and neutralization of anti-personnel mines in Colombia
Enlarge Image [+]

The official delivery was done Saturday at the Tolemaida Army Base in Tolima, during a special event presided by Vice President Francisco Santos Calderón Japanese ambassador in Colombia, Tatsumaro Terazawa Army Chief of Staff, General Luis Alberto Ardila Silva and high-ranking officials in the institution.

These machines were donated to the Armed Forces withine a process led by the Presidential Program for Action Against Anti-personnel Mines, PAICMA for its acronym in Spanish, and will help with the work of the Armys Humanitarian De-mining Battalion in strengthening its capacity.

This tactical unit has been carrying out the de-mining process in 34 military bases protected with security against anti-personnel mines, additionally decontaminating the areas affected by these explosive devices and removing those that have not exploded, especially in the departments of Antioquia, Meta, Caquetá, Cauca, Amazonas, Nariño, Tolima, Cundinamarca and Bolívar.

At the end of the session 3 officers and 6 NCOs were certified in the operation and handling of the minesweeper, with a special demonstration from the Engineering Brigade using one of these machines in a place known as Mesa Leones, at Fort Tolemaida.