Phnom penh: The Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has issued a clarification on how experts differentiate between unexploded ordnance from the country’s past conflicts and those from recent border engagements, aiming to correct public misconceptions.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, CMAC Director General Heng Ratana, in a statement released on CMAC’s official communication channels on Sept. 29, addressed specific public inquiries on the technical identification process. ‘The technical characteristics leave no room for misidentification,’ H.E. Heng Ratana stated, affirming the agency’s capability to distinguish between the eras of conflict.

He explained that all such munitions, including aerial bombs and artillery shells, carry unique identification codes. These markings detail the manufacturing date and the country or company of origin, providing critical forensic evidence.

Furthermore, the Director General noted that the Royal Government has significantly enhanced CMAC’s research and data archiving capacity. The centre now maintains comprehensive records of historical aerial bombardments, including dates, aircraft types, and precise locations of ordnance drops.

This systematic approach to identification and documentation, he said, ensures accurate attribution and prevents the incorrect blaming toward Cambodia in relation to ordnance from recent border conflicts.