During the war Americans call the Viet Nam War and SE Asians call the American War (or the Second Indochine War), Laos became the most heavily bombed nation per capita in world history. Many of the bombs did not explode and remain buried in the ground or under water today. They are a constant danger to children and adults living in the different provinces. Formal studies show that at least one Lao is injured or killed daily from UXO damage.
The most significant danger comes from cluster bombs, bombs with a casing designed to split open mid-air and spew 670 small "bombies" over a 500 square metre area. When disturbed, bombies explode and shoot steel bullets designed to kill anyone within a 20m radius.
I visited the UXO Information Center in Luang Prabang this past week. There, videos of children who have been severely damaged by bombies caution other children to not pick up metal in the forests and fields. Posters share information on bomb types and graphically show some of the damage these bombs caused. Neutralized bombs and bomb casings from the war appear in numerous displays.
As I left the center, one of the staff asked me if I had enjoyed my visit. She was very aware I was the only American in the building. How do you describe shame to someone who does not understand its meaning in English?
I guess we can thank Nixon for the Laos bombing but jfk got us into that war in they first place
ReplyDeleteYes, the video they show at the center contains a clip of Kennedy where he says "We must stay out of Laos."
ReplyDelete