His Excellency Senior Minster Ly Thuch inaugurated the statue of the legendary landmine detection rat MAGAWA in recognition of his extraordinary courage and contribution to saving lives from landmines and explosive remnants of war in Cambodia.
(Siem Reap) On April 3, 2026, Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), presided over the inauguration ceremony of the statue of the heroic mine-detection rat MAGAWA from the demining organization APOPO.
The heroic rat MAGAWA was awarded the prestigious PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) Gold Medal for bravery in saving human lives by the United Kingdom in September 2020. From 2016 to 2020, MAGAWA successfully detected more than 100 landmines and explosive remnants of war across an area of 141,000 square meters.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the administrations of Siem Reap Province and Preah Vihear Province, representatives from CMAC, APOPO, mine action operators, and many students.
During the ceremony, His H.E. Ly Thuch stated that for many years, some Cambodian people had lived on land filled with uncertainty, high risk, and danger at every step. However, the mine-detection rat MAGAWA contributed to eliminating those risks and restoring confidence to the Cambodian people.
More than 100 landmines and explosive remnants of war were discovered through MAGAWA’s work, allowing children to play safely, farmers to cultivate their land freely, and communities to rebuild without fear. MAGAWA left behind more than just a record of discoveries; he also established a standard — a standard of perseverance and a standard of trust in humanitarian mine action work.
His Excellency further stated that the legacy of the mine-detection rat MAGAWA reflects the dedication of APOPO, which introduced innovative approaches to the mine action sector in Cambodia. It also reflects the collective efforts made across Cambodia by all mine action operators, national institutions, friendly countries, and development partners that have stood alongside Cambodia for many years.
His Excellency further emphasized that Cambodia’s mine action achievements did not happen by chance. They are the result of the leadership vision and strong commitment of Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, who has built a solid foundation to protect the people and restore safety to Cambodia’s land. However, despite this progress, mine clearance operations must continue in areas affected by the remnants of past conflicts, and many communities are still waiting for safety.
At the same time, His Excellency also recalled that tomorrow, April 4, marks the observance of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action under the theme: “Invest in Peace; Invest in Mine Action.” He described the theme as a powerful message and a reminder that mine clearance is not merely a technical task, but a foundation for peace, saving lives, restoring dignity, and safely opening opportunities for development.