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We had now journeyed through dozens of villages. Our journey started in the northwest province of Banteay Mean Chey and meandered toward the southeast province of Svay Rieng. In each village, we were able to chronicle a similar account. Situations of poverty and economic need often induced risky behavior involving explosive remnants of war. Most often, this interaction was intentional in an effort to temporarily ameliorate the sting of poverty. It was Sarun’s plight that motivated my research. Sarun died July 14, 2008. He was not alone in his fate. His providence was shared with more than 63,000 others.
The vast majority of landmine-related incidents (i.e., accidents and tampering)occurring in Cambodia today are consequences of intentional tampering. How is tampering influenced by poverty and economic need? Do correlations exist between agricultural vulnerability and tampering behavior? Are people responding to metal price incentives and seeking ordnance when the price of metal is high? Answers to these questions are provided in this book. Numerous significant correlations discovered in this book will facilitate a more targeted approach to combating the residual ordnance problem in Cambodia.
Sarun asked me about where I was from. I found it difficult to elaborate on the details of my upbringing. I described snow and the expansive interstate highways. I permitted my hands to assist me in explaining a rollercoaster one would encounter when visiting a theme park. I detailed my experience with competitive swimming in college. His intrigue was coupled with an understanding that he would never be a part of my world. I had acquired the factual information necessary to perform the desired statistical analyses. Moreover, I was extremely privileged to meet and become friends with several wonderful people. This meant it was time to return home. As I reflected on my notes from each of the research trips taken, my heart was left heavy. As geography quickly became a gaping chasm separating me physically from Cambodia, I reflected on the vast distinctions between the two worlds. I was returning to a world of privilege and prospect, literally walking away from pervasive poverty and its consequences. It was no longer easy to walk away.