Sokhon at work inside the danger zone at "Koun Phnum" or "Baby Mountain" minefield.....Wearing body armor, blast visors and carrying hundreds of pounds of demining equipment she and her colleagues step into the minefield. In searing heat Sokhon begins hiking up and down the hill removing heavy brush piles. She takes great care not to step over a thin red line marking the minefield boundary. She says the experience requires total clarity of mind, "I have to...
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Sokhon at work inside the danger zone at "Koun Phnum" or "Baby Mountain" minefield.....Wearing body armor, blast visors and carrying hundreds of pounds of demining equipment she and her colleagues step into the minefield. In searing heat Sokhon begins hiking up and down the hill removing heavy brush piles. She takes great care not to step over a thin red line marking the minefield boundary. She says the experience requires total clarity of mind, "I have to concentrate only on the sound of the metal detector. I cannot think about anything else or an accident could happen". ....Kheun Sokhon stares at the ground, surveying it slowly. In front of her in the dense Cambodian jungle lies a hidden garden of danger. Her eyes move from left to right following the head of a black metal detector over freshly cut brush. She listens intently - loss of focus could cost her life. The metal detector hums at a low pitch. If it jumps to a high frequency - she must carefully mark the spot. Red signs with skull and crossbones dot the landscape warning, "Danger!! Mines!!". ....Sokhon's supervisor, Thor Thoeun, stands safely 25 meters away, watching. With tension gripping his face, not wanting to disturb Sokhon, he whispers, "We are always scared in the minefield. When the detector signals Sokhon will pinpoint the spot with a red chip." Then she will excavate to find what is under it. If Sokhon sees a mine she will place a red triangle pointing toward the danger. Then she will blow a whistle for the supervisor to check the item. If it is a land mine it will generally be destroyed in place. ..
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