Well known Cambodian deminer, Aki Ra, who was famous for his bare bones landmine museum in Siem Reap and claims of removing thousands of pieces ordnance from the Cambodian soil has retired.

From an email I just received:

"Aki Ra has informed Akira Mine Action Centre founder Roy Warren Clark and its executive director Ty Khan that he has made a decision that he has now retired as a deminer/trainer.

He says that he will soon move his Cambodia Landmine Museum on the river near Angkor Wat to a new facility near Banteay Srei temple where he and his wife Hourt will start a new quieter life, he says, raising their two young sons Amatak and Mine (and the many landmine accident survivor children who will continue to live with them) without the constant dangers involved with his work to make Cambodia safe from landmines although he says that he will continue with other humanitarian projects. With a smile, he said he might even do a little farming."

Aki Ra's efforts were not without controversy in the demining community. Working wihout government or NGO backing, his efforts were widely condemned by mainstream ordnance removal organizations. Regardless, his landmine museum near Angkor Wat for many people was the first time they came face to face with the landmine problem. He became somewhat of a folk hero to many.

UPDATE April 9

In the last week many people have been contacting the CLMMRF about the supposed "retirement" of Aki Ra's de-mining activity. Many people have been writing the CLMMRF with concerned letters and emails asking if this is true.

The CLMMRF would like to clarify that Aki Ra has "retired" from
independent de-mining activity as he is not licensed to clear mines
within the Kingdom Of Cambodia and this activity is only bringing him
more problems. Please do not be alarmed by this announcement as it is
a very positive step for AkiRa's personal safety and for
accountability issues that surround the independent de-mining
movement. The CLMMRF has been working for the last 7
Years to help create a more transparent and accountable reputation for
AkiRa's de-mining work and has arrived at an exciting alternative that
will both maximize his de-mining efforts and help increase the rate at
which he is able to clear mines. He has NOT retired from de-mining but
rather from de-mining on his own.

The CLMMRF is now working with Aki Ra and several national level army
Generals of the RCAF (Royal Cambodia Armed Forces), as well as with
members of the Cambodian Government to enlist Aki Ra as a "Chief
De-mining Technician" within the RCAF. This new position will allow
him to be able to clear mines with a much larger team of demining
technicians as well as giving him greater access to many areas where
he was restricted to de-minein the past. Best of all responsibilty
will fall under the authority of the RCAF and not Aki Ra. This new
position is an excellent opportunity for AkiRa to train more army
personnel with explosives engineering knowledge he acquired from the
International School of Security and Explosive Engineers in Salisbury
UK. (ISSEE training was provided through the CLMMRF donor funding over
the last 2 years and has given Aki Ra a much higher level of knowledge
and public relations value with regard to accident prevention and
up-to-date technology and mine safety awareness.) The ISSEE
certification also gives him much needed credibility with regard to
international de-mining NGO's who have not supported Aki Ra's methods
in the past. The CLMMRF has plans for Aki Ra to return to the ISSEE to
complete the very last level (LEVEL 3) of his explosive engineering
training before the end of 2007.