Cambodia Medical Exercise 2012 concludes

  “The Marines and sailors performed excellently,” Reid said. “We asked a lot of the sailors and Marines, requiring them to adapt to different environmental and teaching conditions.”

The personnel at the Preaketh Mealea military hospital were extremely receptive to the training, according to Reid. After the lectures, hospital staff requested further discussions and training in the future.

While in Cambodia, the battalion also conducted a community relations project at the Aspeca Orphanage in Kampot.

The sailors and Marines worked hard to leave the buildings looking as nice as possible and worked side-by-side with the Cambodians.

“The project showed good relations between our countries,” said Sgt. Gary L. Garza, a civil affairs team chief with III MEF civil affairs. “The local populace, staff of the orphanage and personnel from the battalion helped to make it better looking and safer for the children.”

In addition to the outreach project and subject-matter exchanges, U.S. and Cambodian service members exchanged knowledge regarding types of fractures, splints, intravenous procedures, splinting, casualty carries and other basic medical techniques.

They exchanged this specialized information through classroom instruction, demonstrations and practical application exercises.

“We are happy the sailors come here to train,” said Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Lt. Cmdr. Ley Sarith, a physician’s assistant at Ream Naval Base. “The sailors helped train our newer personnel with new equipment and techniques.”

As there is not a large military presence in Phnom Penh, the hope is information will be disseminated from those who attended the exercise to personnel at other facilities throughout Cambodia, according to Reid. 

“We will continue our mission to increase (Cambodia’s medical capabilities),” said Reid. “We will be taking the lessons we learned here home with us, and we hope they will do the same and share the knowledge with those around them.”

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia  — After spending 20 days in the hot, humid climate of Cambodia, sailors and Marines with 3rd Medical Battalion wrapped up Cambodia Medical Exercise 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 21.



KAM POT, Cambodia-Marines, sailors and a Cambodian volunteer paint the Aspeca Orphanage in Kam Pot June 10 during Cambodia Medical Exercise 2012. The orphanage was repainted during a community relations event to help orphaned children in the local community. The Marines and sailors are with 3rd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. , Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. Ranum, 6/10/2012 6:54 AM

 The battalion, a part of Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, participated in the exercise to enhance military-to-military relationships between U.S., Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Cambodian government medical personnel.

“The exercise went well,” said Lt. j.g. Kevin D. Reid, operations officer for the exercise. “We met the objective set for us by III MEF and U.S. Pacific Command, which directed the battalion to build host nation medical capabilities.”

 During the exercise, 58 lectures were given to medical staff by both Cambodian and U.S. personnel and participants conducted subject-matter exchanges and bilateral medical training, according to Senior Chief Petty Officer Arne A. Marin, the senior enlisted leader for the exercise.

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Cambodian villagers protest controversial Laos dam

 

By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodian villagers demonstrated on Friday against a controversial Lao hydropower dam that activists say is being built in defiance of an agreement to assess its potentially damaging impact on millions of people first.

About 200 villagers whose livelihoods depend on the Mekong River urged a halt to the Thai-led construction of the $3.5 billion Xayaburi dam, which has angered Cambodia's government and triggered a rare rebuke by Laos's biggest ally, Vietnam.

"This dam won't just affect the people in our country but will also affect many parts of Laos," said Buddhist monk So Pra, organizer of the protest in Kompong Cham province, 124 km (77 miles) from the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.

The Xayaburi dam is one of dozens planned as part of Laos's aggressive push to boost its tiny $7.5 billion economy and become the "battery of Southeast Asia" by exporting the vast majority of its power.
Foreign governments are concerned Laos is prioritizing its growth ambitions over ecological and environmental protection.

Under pressure from neighbors that felt its environmental impact study was inadequate, Laos agreed in December to suspend the project pending an assessment by foreign experts. Four countries share the lower stretches of the 4,900 km (3,044 mile) Mekong -- Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Environmental group International Rivers released a report this week saying it had witnessed Ch Karnchang Pcl, Thailand's second-biggest construction firm, resettling villagers, beefing up labor, building a large retaining wall and undertaking dredging to deepen and widen the riverbed.

"So far, Ch Karnchang claims that they are only going forward with 'preliminary construction' on the project," said Kirk Herbertson, Mekong Campaigner for International Rivers.

"Ripping up the riverbed and resettling entire villages cannot be considered a preliminary activity."

Te Navuth, secretary general of the Cambodia National Mekong River Commission, said Laos had violated a 1995 agreement requiring prior consultation before starting any development on the Mekong.

"Laos always said that it's just preparatory work," he said, adding Cambodia and Vietnam would jointly demand a halt.

Thailand could also be affected but, although small protests have taken place there, the government has been reluctant to oppose the project.

Ch Karnchang has a 57 percent share in the Xayaburi, which Thai banks are helping to finance. State-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) will buy electricity generated by the plant. Read more!