Host: [00:00:00] The President's press conference from the new state department

auditorium, March 23rd, 1961.

John F. Kennedy: I want to make a brief statement about Laos. It is, I think important,

for all Americans to understand this difficult and potentially dangerous problem.

[00:00:30] These three maps show the area of effective communist domination as it

was last August and now from December 20th, now to the present date, near the end of

March, the communists control a much wider section of the country. The position of this

administration has been carefully considered. We have sought to make it just as clear

as we know how to the [00:01:00] governments concerned. First, we strongly and

unreservedly support the goals of a neutral and independent Laos, tied to no outside

power or group of powers, threatening no one, and free from any domination. My fellow

Americans, Laos is far away from America but the world is small. The security of all

Southeast Asia will be in dangered if Laos [00:01:30] loses its neutral independence. I

want to make it clear to the American people and to all the world that all we want in

Laos is peace, not war.

[music]

[00:02:00]

[music]

Bounta: American airplanes during those days were flying in like butterflies. Flying back

and forth and dropping bombs like crazy. They didn't care about anything! We knew

nothing and we only waited for our death to come. I never thought that I would want to

have this or that. I only counted the moments I would die, tomorrow or this evening?

[00:02:30] That's the story of our lives during the war.

[music]

[00:03:00]

Female Speaker 1: From June 1964 to March 1973, the US dropped at least two

million tons of bombs at a small landlocked Southeast Asian country in what would

become the largest bombing campaign in history.

Female Speaker 2: The equivalent of one planeload every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day

for 9 years, more than were dropped on Germany and Japan during World War II.

John F. Kennedy: Borders the Mekong River and quite obviously, if Laos fell into

Communist hands, it would increase the danger [00:03:30] along the northern frontiers

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

1

of Thailand. We signed the Declaration of Neutrality of Laos and respect for the

neutrality and independence of that little country.

Female Speaker 3: The president handed over the war effort in Laos to the CIA.

Male Speaker 1: If they want to start, doesn't finish what he does, I don't care if he goes

in and bombs their home. They don't say it.

Male Speaker 2: This nation, key to the entire peninsula is threatened by a red military

takeover as it was last May.

Male Speaker 3: America's intervention [00:04:00] here in Laos was a secret to the

American people.

Male Speaker 4: The people of Laos have suffered tremendously from the war that

[unintelligible 00:04:09] as the war.

Female Speaker 4: Laos is littered with as many as 80 million bombies or bomblets,

baseball-sized bombs found inside cluster bombs. [00:04:30]

Male Speaker 4: Up to 80 million of these failed to detonate and just 1% of them have

been cleared.

Female Speaker 5: Again, the amount of bombs that we’re talking about that were

dropped on this tiny country.

Female Speaker 6: What they say today is [00:05:00] that they want to put the war

behind them and they want to grow in the future and they would love the help of the

United States government in doing that.

[background noise]

[00:05:30]

[music]

[silence]

[background noise]

[00:06:00]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

2

Poy Ar: We didn't know that they would come to bomb us, they just said the war is

coming soon. "It will be a war of airplanes, so you have to run to hide as fast as you

can!" [00:06:30] Our village was over here during the war, later we went to the forest.

We went to the cave, but couldn't stay as the planes bombed the cave heavily. Just the

sound of an explosion could kill you.

[background noise]

[00:07:00]

Ki: My family name is Duangleudee. I am a farmer. I was born in 1955. I am not quite

sure how old I am. Someone said I am 61, but I don't know! [00:07:30] In 1965 the B52

planes started bombing the country. There were times that the planes did not bomb,

sometimes a full day gap. We moved into this cave to join my grandfather. [00:08:00]

[music]

Bounta: [00:08:30] During the war there were very heavy bombing days dropped from

airplanes starting from 1965. It continued 55, 67, and 69. The bombs were pouring from

the planes to the ground. There were about two or three kinds of bombs.

Poy Ar: [00:09:00] If the cave had only one entrance it was not possible to stay there.

We were very afraid that the planes would bomb and trap us inside. The Vietnamese

stayed on that mountain. In the past it was a high mountain, not low like it is today. They

bombed the entire mountain until it became flat. Nobody survived there.

[music]

[00:09:30]

[music]

This is a U.S. aircraft fuel tank.

[background noise]

The U.S. dropped 1 plane load of bombs on average, every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day

for nine years. [00:10:00]

1973.

First plane load since the film began. [00:10:30]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

3

XiangKhouang

Sao La

Sao La: Our house was over there at the bottom of the mountain. Oh... it was really

scary, we could not make fires at night. If we made fires the planes would come to

bomb us for sure. They would come to drop a light marker first and then start bombing...

[00:11:00] then we couldn't sleep in the house we had to run. We went to dig a hole to

hide from the airplanes next to the river over there. I had five children during that time, I

carried or dragged them sometimes. We had to dig the hole by ourselves, as nobody

dug for you.

Just dig together with your family until it's big enough for everyone to fit. [00:11:30] We

were 2 families in one hole. The day they bombed my house I saw the village monk, the

monk went up to dig a hole on the mountain, after that 4 fighter jets came really fast and

we had to run for life. They bombed a lot on the spot we had to run and hide in the hole,

I almost did not make it that day. [00:12:00] It was really heavy. The bombs fell like rain.

Ki: My father died in 1969. [00:12:30] After my father died we were not able to farm

anymore. All the farming or gardening stopped completely, as the planes bombed the

area heavily during that time. I was more that 10 years old already. After my father

passed away [00:13:00] we stayed with my grandfather in this cave.

The bomb hit here. It was not meant to bomb my father, they just bombed the area

every day. He was sleeping on a platform over there. We were sleeping inside, deep

inside the cave. My mother and the young children were sleeping inside. He was the

only one sleeping outside. [00:13:30]

[music]

[00:14:00] We were staying here sharing food and drinks with others. There were about

17 or 18 families to share the cave with. There were also families in the other cave.

There are three caves and one is a smaller cave. These are my memories when I come

back and see where I used to live, [00:14:30] see the place where I grew up, the place I

had the most difficult time in my life.

When I see the kids these day and think about the past, my tears drop. Most of the time

when I pass by this area and see this cave and the cliff, I cry thinking about my life up

there, and all the difficulties and losses. [00:15:00] When I come back here, I think

about the difficult time and where I lost my father. I never thought about life and other

things during the war. We only thought about the poor situation we had during the war. I

look at the modern world today, which I never thought we would have electricity.

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

4

[00:15:30] We have enough clothes and other things to wear and use. We have the

tractor to work in the rice field, we have cars, motorbikes, and light to see at night.

Host: Just when the United States is gradually pulling out of Vietnam, there is a rush of

concern that Louis [00:16:00] may become another Vietnam. Not so says the

administration and says why.

William P. Rogers: Well, the president won't let it happen, that's why. We have learned

one lesson and that is that we're not going to fight any major wars in the mainland of

Asia again. We're not going to send American troops there. We certainly are not going

to do it unless we have the American public and the congress behind us.

John F. Kennedy: There are no American comeback forces in Laos. We have been

[00:16:30] providing logistical support and some training for the mutualist government in

order to avoid Laos falling under communist domination. As far as American manpower

in Laos concern, there are non there at the present time on a compact basis.

[background noise]

Poy Ar: [00:17:00] Around noon they came. If you heard the Vietnamese on the cliff

firing the guns BAND, BANG. Then it was time to run and hide as they were coming.

They were coming for sure and bombing us heavily. The planes did not bomb one at a

time. [00:17:30] The bombs were in one line down and BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

[backgrouns noise]

Even in the cave we were not able to hide. Just had to run and hide for our lives. They

were just bombing until they were satisfied and went back. They didn't care what they

were bombing. Everything was gone with only craters left, some craters were really big.

Life had no meaning during the war. If you survived you would see the world and your

family again. [00:18:00]

Bounta: During the war we only lived in the forest as we couldn't live in the village as it

was all on fire. Destructions from the bombs and only the pillars of the houses

remained. In 1975 we came back to the village where we live until now. [00:18:30] I

don't know how to describe the amount of mines on the roads. The road mines were

piled up everywhere. They are now trying to clear but will never be able to finish... it has

now been too many years. The flat mines have been dropped a lot. These are the ones

that destroyed my leg.

Sao: It wasn't even a year after when my husband went to dig in the field. [00:19:00]

We had no cattle left and my husband was the first to go back to the fields. He dug and

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

5

hit a cluster bomb. It exploded and he died immediately on the spot. He left all the

children behind and I had to take care of them until now. He passed away so many

years ago.

[00:19:30]

There are currently 80 million unexploded American bombs in Laos. Enough to cover 83

American Football fields. Second Plane Load.

[music]

[00:20:00]

Ki: After the war ended we moved to the village. There were so many.. in every bush

there was a UXO (unexpected ordance).

Bounta: Oh.. there are still a lot around. They are still active, if we hit it, it will explode.

[00:20:30] Digging in the rice fields, many people died from them. This year one person

in Ban Nongma passed away. He was cutting the fields and a cluster bomb was in

there.

Ki: They were in every corner of our rice fields. I was always careful since the way

ended. I never used hoes to dig ever. [00:21:00]

Bounta: The cluster bombs are very rusty, but if you hit it they explode immediately.

They really last for a long time.

[music]

[background noise]

[music]

[00:21:30]

[music]

[00:22:00]

[music]

[00:22:30]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

6

[music]

Phetsamay: This is my daughter. Sit down, your are too tall, he can't see you. Dad.

Aer, come in. This is my husband. He can't see you, you are too tall.

[music]

Sonsai Sichanthavong: [00:23:00] My name is Sonsai Sichanthavong. I am 38 years

old. I work with UXO Lao in Khammouane province. We have a risky and dangerous

job, I discussed this topic clearly with my wife before she went to the training. [00:23:30]

She knows that it's dangerous, but she wants to participate to help the villagers to have

less risk in their every day lives. Our area of work is far from each other. She works on

site and I'm in the office. We only meet a few days per month. It's good for me and up to

her because she likes it! [00:24:00] I don't want to stop her and she can do what she

wants to do.

Phetsamay: Most of the time my mother is taking care of the house and the children,

my son and my daughter. My husband will often come back home during the week. It's

normal, I depend on him as he works closer to the house. He comes home to spend

time with the children and takes care of the household as I'm gone for more than 20

days. [00:24:30]

Phetsamy and her team wirk 252 days out of the year searching for UXO (unexploded

ordnance)

They work tediously to find, dig up, and detonate the 80 million UXO, one by one.

Phetsamay: Every day depends on the location of the site. If there are a lot of craters

then there will be more UXO [00:25:00]. We used to find around 20 to 30 in a day,

sometimes even 40 to 50 UXO were together in one location. Sometimes the entire

cluster bomb with all the small UXO units inside.

[music]

[00:25:30]

[music]

[00:26:00]

[music]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

7

[00:26:30]

[music]

[00:27:00]

[music] After my training, the first time I had to scan, I was so scared! [00:27:30] I got

used to it slowly and then it became normal. I can see everybody in the team is working

hard on the clearing job. We know that it's dangerous... but we have to do our best.

[00:28:00] I really want all the villagers to have a safe basis for their daily life. I want to

detonate all the UXO in Laos.

[background noise]

[00:28:30]

[background noise]

John F. Kennedy: As to the general view on Laos, this matter [00:29:00] is a big

concern to us. Unites States is anxious that there'll be establish in Laos, a peaceful, a

country, an independent country. Not dominated by either side but concerned with life

within the country. They are anxious that that situation come in the United states

infusing its influence to see if that independent country, [00:29:30] peaceful country and

committed country and be established under the present very difficult circumstances.

Phetsamay: When I was young, around 10 years old, I went with my mother to collect

bamboo and we found UXO in the bushes. I was about to dig to find bamboo then I saw

the UXO and I ran away. When I grew up and we went fishing I saw a lot along the

rivers too. I was really afraid of the UXO and never thought that I would work with them

some day! [00:30:00] I like this job. All the people who work here are good friends and

everybody has a great responsibility toward their jobs. We stay in camps like brothers

and sisters. We help and take care of each other if someone gets sick.

On Khamsoukthavong: Sabaidee, my name is On Khamsoukthavong. [00:30:30] I

have been working with UXO Lao for 9 years.

Keavalin Bounyeun: Sabaidee, my name is Keavalin Bounyeun. I have been working

with UXO for one year.

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

8

Phitsadee Manikone: Sabaidee, my name is Phitsadee Manikone. I have been working

with UXO for 2 years. Many people and children have accidents and losses from UXO.

[00:31:00] That's why I want to work with UXO Lao to help clear up the UXO.

[music]

[00:31:30]

[music]

[background noise]

Phetsamay: It's difficult when you find a UXO as it's challenging to dig; you just need to

be very careful. If we find a small UXO, we will report to the team leader. The team

leader will check and [00:32:00] mark with a stick. If it's a big UXO then we report to the

team leader and to the UXO Lao expert. We slowly dig to the point that we are able to

tell if it's an UXO or just scrap metal. [00:32:30] If we find UXO [00:33:00] on the site

we will detonate at the end of each day. We find around 10 to 20 UXO per day. At 3 PM

we will block the site for the detonations. [00:33:30] For the detonation every day we

need megaphones, phony the trigger electric checking tools, we need the explosive for

the detonation. What I like most is to detonate.

[music]

[00:34:00]

[music]

Prior to detonation, we have to inform the UXO main office and the village authority of

each location. We will have a working station on-site and storage for the explosive

powder. [00:34:30]

[explosion]

At this rate, it will take 2500 years to rid Laos fo UXO. [00:35:00]

[background noise]

[music]

[00:35:30]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

9

[music]

Maithong Thammavong: UXO Lao Khammouane started in 1999 funded by the

government. [00:36:00] We search and clear UXOs in the region. My name is

Maithong Thammavong. I am the UXO Lao coordinator in Khammouane province. Our

first role is to reduce death and injuries from UXO accidents, [00:36:30] then second is

to clear more farmland for the population. Since 1999 until now, we have found 116 big

cluster bombs, 12,868 bombies, [00:37:00] 43 land mines and 26,036 other UXO. Last

year in 2016 there was an accident in Boulapha district. Two small children died and

one was injured.

Phetsamay: [00:37:30] I am really worried about my kids. I don't want them to go near

the bombs. I know how dangerous they are now, so I don't want the children to go close

or play with it. I am not sure if I would be less worried about my kids if I didn't know

about the dangers of UXO. [00:38:00] I know if my kids would find a UXO, I would be

very concerned. Children don't know sometimes and they may play with it, it happened

in the past that the kids were throwing it around. There were kids throwing it at trees.

If this would be my kids, I would not be able to accept this like others. [00:38:30] I teach

my children not to touch or play with UXO. If they are at school and see UXO they

shouldn't touch or move it, instead they should let the teachers know. I have spoken to

my children about the dangers of UXO. I have to tell them all the time. He is this tall

now. I still have to remind him all the time. I'm afraid that they will think it's a toy and

play with it. [00:39:00] They are still kids, they don't really know much.

[background noise]

40% of UXO victims are children.

Fourth PLane Load [00:39:30]

[music]

[00:40:00]

[music]

?Speaker: There were three kids that went out to dig for crickets near the village.

[00:40:30] That area was just about to be on the clearing process.

Lae: My name is Lae. Three, four, five children- two died. Three left... [00:41:00] I told

them to go dig for some crickets and they went to find some crickets for lunch. It was

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

10

last year. From here up to this part, the second son was injured from the knee up there

were a lot of holes on his chest that I could fit my finger through. That was my younger

son. [00:41:30]

The older son was injured here, here and here. On my younger son, it was all over his

body. The younger son was the one digging and hit the UXO. The older son was

carrying the basket and waiting. We only have one basket, so the younger son didn't

have one. I told them that we have only one basket so they should share. The younger

son was digging and the older one was waiting for the crickets. [00:42:00] That's why it

more on the younger son. The oldest son was 11 and the second was 10. Done and

Pone. They hit a landmine. Just digging to find crickets.

[music]

[00:42:30]

[music]

They took them to the hospital and they died there. They brought back home the

younger son's body.

[music]

Sipaserd: [00:43:00] There have been many accidents in this region. Some people

survive and some don't. The latest case was a 10-year-old kid in Nongboua village. He

had injuries to his head, body and both his legs and arms. [00:43:30] We were trying to

help him with oxygen. We could only help him for 15 minutes before he died. We did our

best and felt horrible about the accident. [00:44:00] It's a shame that the kid didn't make

it. Te challenge for us is that when emergency reaches us here, we are only a clinic. We

don't have the right equipment and we can only provide basic treatment. If it's a case of

emergency we can't do much, we will send the patient to the provincial hospital. We

only provide first aid treatment. [00:44:30] If there are donors that want to support they

are very welcomed. [00:45:00] If there were more funding for UXO in Laos, and we

receive further dondations we would try to get all the necessary equipment for

emergency accident cases. What we really need are more oxygen machines, we only

have on here. [00:45:30]

[music]

[00:46:00]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

11

[silence]

[00:46:30]

[silence]

Barack Obama: To the government and the people of Laos, thank you so much for the

kind welcome that you've extended to me and my delegation. I am very honored to be

the first American president to visit Laos.

[00:47:00]

[applause]

Thank you. I realized that having a US president in Laos would have once been

unimaginable. Six decades ago, this country fell into civil war. Your neighbors and

foreign powers, including the United States intervened here. At the time, the US

government did not acknowledge America's role. There was a secret war. For years, the

American people did not know. [00:47:30] Even now, many Americans are not fully

aware of this chapter in our history and it's important that we remember today. Over

nine years, from 1964 to 1973, the United States dropped more than 2 million tons of

bombs here in Laos. War inflicts a terrible toll, especially on innocent men, women,

children. Today, I stand with you and acknowledging the suffering and sacrifices on all

sides of that conflict. I also know that [00:48:00] the remnants of war continue to shatter

lives here in Laos. Today I'm proud to announce a historic increase in these efforts. The

United States will double our annual funding to $90 million over the next three years to

help Laos expand its work.

[applause]

Sipaserd: [00:48:30] We have to use the 90 million dollars supported by the USA for

research. Then we will know for sure how ling it will take to clear all the UXO in Laos.

We have funding, but it's not enough. They have plans to help in the future too,

everything is according to the work we are doing. [00:49:00] We have to show that the

grand provided is being fulfilled. If we are working efficiently in the clearance field of

work, and if we reach our yearly goals. If everything goes well, the donors will benefit,

accordingly there will be fundraising for each province in the future. [00:49:30]

The US spent $130 million dollars in just 10 days of bombing Laos.

[00:50:00] Fifth Plane Load

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

12

[music]

Phetsamay: When we arrived at the COPE Center we were welcomed and they told us

to wait in a room. [00:50:30] We waited and had drinks. They came to tell us if we

needed to go to the bathroom we should go now as Mr. Obama is coming soon. After

that we waited for him outside. I had some medication as I was afraid I would have

stomach pain from not eating on time. They scanned and stopped at my pocket. I was a

bit concerned. They checked and saw it was medicaiton... they said it's okay and that I

could go. [00:51:00]

[00:51:00] Female Speaker:- [Foreign language] He said sorry that it's not a war of

Laos, they didn't mean to harm Laos, it was the Vietnam war. [00:51:30] It hust

happend in Laos.

[music]

Female Reporter 1: President Obama just made history by being the first sitting US

president to visit Laos.

Female Reporter 2: Obama has so far refused to issue a formal apology for the secret

US bombing campaign in Laos during its war on Vietnam.

Male Reporter 1: The US secretly dropped 270 million bombs on Laos, in part to cut off

North Vietnamese supply routes.

Male Reporter 2: Again, Margaret [00:52:00] Brennan, $90 million or so to help clean

up undetonated bombs still in the country. What are the details?

Margaret Brennan: Well, this is $90 million over three years to clean up what's called

unexploded ordnance. These are bombies, they look like little balls. Little kids pick them

up and often become victims of these bombs that were dropped nearly 40 years ago in

a war that this country was never technically a part of.

Male Reporter 3: Up to 80 million of these failed to detonate and [00:52:30] just 1% of

them have been cleared.

Female Reporter 4: Obama's $90 million for bomb clearance in Laos. It's not enough.

Female Reporter 5: We bombed Laos so much it is officially the most heavily bombed

country per capita in all of human history.

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

13

Male Reporter 4: The $90 million that Obama pledged at first sounds like a lot. The

numbers that everybody talks about and that you brought up they're accurate as far as

we know. That said, we also know that that is the low estimate of it. Large numbers of

airplanes [00:53:00] that were sent to do bombing runs in Vietnam, for example, came

back over Laos to bases in Thailand and on their way back, would randomly drop their

loads in Laos. We have no records whatsoever of those loads that were dropped. We

don't actually know how much was dropped in the first place. We know it's more than

the numbers that we talked about.

Male Reporter 5: Experts say the President's visit shows that the US is trying to make

friends with countries near China to help balance out that nation's growing power in the

region.

Margaret: Because of the problems and because of the lack of cleanup, [00:53:30]

because of the lack of recognition, it continues to kill people and trouble this very

undeveloped country. There are fields that can't be plowed, there is land that can't be

developed. There are children who are walking around who weren't even alive during

the Vietnam War, who are missing arms and legs and limbs.

Barack Obama: When we are able to come here to show respect for their culture,

recognize our history and then point towards a future in which we can

[00:54:00] work together, we will actually have more influence. We'll be able to promote

our ideals more effectively. That's part of what we've been able to accomplish I think

over the last seven, eight years is open up places that previously were closed and

engage people in ways that will pay huge dividends in the future.

Maithong: I want to give perspective to all funders from around the world, [00:54:30]

that we are still facing big challenges and we have to keep clearing. We don't know

when we will complete our mission, our immediate objective is to clear more farmland

for villagers. There are still a lot areas that can't be cleared yet, as we don't have the

budget and we don't have enough manpower. [00:55:00] This is based on many factors

such as teams, equipments, vehicles and donors. We could reach out more efficiently to

other districts if we had the budget. We are welcoming any additional funders to support

is in any category or equipment. [00:55:30]

[music]

[00:56:00]

[music]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

14

[00:56:30]

[music]

Bounta: There are more than 19 cluster bombs in my field. I just mark the area and

don't farm there. For sure there are still UXO in my rice fields.

[music]

[00:57:00]

[00:57:00]

Poy Ar: The government has said many times that this area is not suitable to live

anymore so we should move away. They are correct that there are other richer places

to live, but our homes are here, we can't leave. Nobody told us to stay, but we just didn't

want to leave. A poor life on our own home is better than a rich life in someone else's

place. [00:57:30]

[music]

Host: At the years of simple [unintelligible 00:57:50] we are now learning a lot with

our lives.

Maithong: I promise that I will do my best to make sure that all the villagers will have

better life and a life without UXO. [00:58:00]

Phetsamay: We know that it's dangerous but we have to do our best.

John F. Kennedy: My fellow Americans, Laos is far away from America, but the world

is small.

Phetsamay: All the areas we have cleared should be safe now. Yes! I am tired and

there are still many more bombs out there, but I will do my best. [00:58:30] I am not

giving up and I will keep working on it.

[music]

Ki: I want to take the opportunity here to call for all donors around the world to donate

and support is to create a safe ground for the daily life, for the villagers to have a better

life and no more risks from UXO. Thank you. Thank you very much.

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

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[music]

[00:59:30]

[music]

[01:00:00] [music]

[01:00:30]

[music]

[01:01:00]

[music]

[01:01:30]

[music]

[01:02:00]

[music]

[01:02:30]

[music]

[01:03:00]

[music]

[01:03:07] [END OF AUDIO]

File name: This Little Land of Mines __.mp4

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