Fiji: 24 RFMF military personnel to attend explosive training

In a collaborative effort between the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, 24 military personnel are set to participate in an International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) course organised by the Read More …

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force EOD officers on UXO training

Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit are undergoing a two-week training facilitated by Japan’s Ammunition College, Self-Defence Force and the Ministry of Defence. The training is to boost the EOD unit’s capabilities including Read More …

Cambodia: UN-ESCAP help sought to expand Ottawa signatories

Ly Thuch, the First Vice- President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), has requested UN-ESCAP to assist in encouraging Asia-Pacific nations that have not yet ratified the Ottawa Treaty to do so while Cambodia is hosting Read More …

Two Malaysians in Guantanamo plead guilty to conspiring in Bali Bombings

Malaysians Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep and Mohammed Farik Bin Amin have pleaded guilty to conspiring in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people. The two men appeared in front of a military court at the US naval Read More …

Papua New Guinea: At least 15 dead after major rioting and looting

A state of emergency has been declared in Papua New Guinea’s capital after at least 15 people were killed in rioting. More than 1,000 troops are on standby “to step in wherever necessary”, Prime Minister James Marape said on Thursday. Read More …

Philippines: NPA explosives unearthed in Batangas

A stash of explosives believed to be owned by the New People’s Army was discovered by the military in a mountainous area in Sitio Sales, Barangay Pooc, this town, on Wednesday morning, January 3. The Army 59th Infantry Battalion received information Read More …

Japan: U.S. mines from WWII found at wind farm in Kanmon Straits

In a two-step process on Dec. 14, the MSDF vessel cleared a mine from World War II. “We managed to dispose of it without fail,” said Lt. Cmdr. Akira Ito of the 43rd Mine Warfare Force. It was the first Read More …

Japan to provide more than $1 million to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia

The Royal Government of Japan, through the Embassy in Cambodia, has agreed to provide more than $1.3 million to Cambodia for the clearance of cluster munitions, landmines, and unexploded ordnance. The grant agreement under the Grant Scheme for this Japanese Read More …

Philippines: Troops arrest Marawi bomb attack suspect

Troops and police have captured a suspected accomplice in the bombing at Mindanao State University (MSU) last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday. The suspect, Jafar Gamo Sultan a.k.a. Jaf/Kurot, was arrested in an operation in Read More …

Philippines: Abu Sayyaf bomb maker killed in Basilan

A notorious Abu Sayyaf leader and bombmaker blamed for deadly attacks in southern Philippines had been killed while trying to evade military operations in Basilan. Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the Philippine Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade in Basilan, confirmed Read More …

Philippines: Bomb blast during Mass kills 4, wounds 50 at Mindanao State University

Four persons died and 50 others were wounded after a bomb exploded inside the Dimaporo Gym of the Mindanao State University (MSU) while a Catholic Mass attended by students was held past 7 a.m. on Sunday, police reported. Brig. Gen. Read More …

Philippines: Basilan explosion kills 2 militiamen, injures 3 others

Two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (Cafgu) died on the spot when they accidentally tripped on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sitio Bato Piyat, Barangay Limbocandis, Sumisip town of Basilan province at around 12:30 p.m. on Read More …

Philippines: IED components dug up amid sustained anti-insurgency ops

Police operatives have recovered components for an improvised explosive device (IED) in a remote mountain village in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental as a result of sustained operations against the communist New People’s Army (NPA). Lt. Stephen Polinar, public information officer Read More …

Philippines: ‘Kamandag’ troops train on bomb disposal techniques in Palawan

Troops participating in the “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma mula sa Dagat” (“Kamandag”) exercises in Palawan have engaged in proficient drills that would boost their capabilities in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and other combat subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs). In a Read More …

Philippines: Improvised bomb explosion topples power post

A concrete post of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) was toppled down by an improvised bomb explosion in an east coast village of this city, the police reported Saturday, November 4. Zamboanga City Police Office said the incident happened Read More …

RNZN to undertake historic survey and submerged WWII bomb disposal in Pacific Islands mission

Operation Calypso will involve the 70-strong Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) crew carrying out maritime security patrols, hydrographic surveys and community engagement activities during visits to Niue, Fiji and Vanuatu. While in Niue, HMNZS Manawanui will take seven people from Read More …

Philippines: Misamis Occidental governor survives IED attack

Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal and two of his security escorts were unhurt when an improvised explosive device went off in Barangay Lapasan in Clarin town before midnight on Sunday. Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo said Read More …

Philippines: Local bomb-maker killed in accidental IED blast in Maguindanao del Sur

A local terrorist was killed in an accidental explosion of an improvised bomb he was assembling in Barangay Malangog in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday afternoon, the police and military reported. Initial reports on Monday identified the fatality Read More …

Singapore: A look at SAF’s selection process, training for its bomb disposal experts

When the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was alerted to a World War II aerial bomb last month, the experts sent to assess the situation had never been involved in such a disposal. But the team of first-timers, comprising regular servicemen Read More …