This report is brought to you by COPE – a Laos based organization which provides prosthetics and mobility devices for those who need them while educating the public about America’s Secret War.

On the 1^st of August 2010 a treaty banning cluster munitions will come into effect to place Laos at the forefront of an international legal process. The treaty acknowledges a history that has never made it into the textbooks of school children anywhere in the world. Signed by 104 countries it finally brings to light the damage still being done to communities in 24 countries around the world.

During the years of the Second Indochina War (1964-1973) more explosives were dropped over Laos than were dropped in Europe during the whole of the Second World War, equivalent to a plane load every eight minutes for nine years. Cluster bombs were a major part of the bombing strategy and were used in greater numbers than had ever been seen before, or since.

A cluster bomb can come in various guises – the most common types used over Laos were large cases containing 680 tennis ball sized bombs. Each with a killing radius of 30 meters, one large case would ensure complete devastation over an area of three football fields. In all over 260 million individual cluster bombs were dropped over Laos. The level of bombing is hard to comprehend but what is harder to imagine is that for many people in Laos the risks from these bombs continue to affect their daily lives.

The issue being the failure rate, estimated at 30%. Armed by a spinning motion and detonated by impact, dropping from too low a height or into soft ground, planted deadly time capsules, waiting for the jolt of a farmers hoe or to be picked up by a curious child. Some 80 million of these remained after the war and are still robbing people of lives and limbs at a rate of around 300 a year throughout Laos.

The National Regulatory Authority (NRA) is the Lao government agency whose role is to coordinate the activities of numerous organizations assisting in the clean up and assistance efforts.  Their survey showed 50,136 Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) casualties reported between 1964 and 2008, with 20,726 survivors living without a limb as a result of contact with unexploded ordinance.

One local project has been in Laos for almost 12 years, developing rehabilitation services including artificial limbs. COPE works in partnership with the government services and has developed an exhibition to show the work that is being done to help people move on after an accident and give the stories of some of the survivors a place to be seen and heard. Wider issues of disability are covered. This innovative exhibition is a must on any Vientiane itinerary.  Expect to be taken on a journey that COPE hopes will inspire you to get involved, get informed and get this issue the attention it deserves.

This free exhibition is actually inside the grounds of the National Rehabilitation Centre, staff can either guide you through or you can work your way round in your own time. Walking into this converted shed the first exhibit shows exactly what 680 cluster bombs looks like. Hand made by the rehabilitation staff, used to using plaster of paris to build replacement limbs, instead they made 680 small ‘bombies’ which scatter out above your head.

This sets the scene for understanding the sheer scale of the problem in Laos and the wide range of explosives that clearance teams have to deal with. Properly defused items are shown and the technology developed to ensure maximum killing efficiency is a sobering start to the exhibition. The facts are laid out leading to a map showing the area of the bombing.

A map of Laos adorns one wall. It is generated using patchwork images of Lao people, with bombing data from the US Air force overlaid onto it the landscape is permanently tainted by the bombing. Each red dot that obliterates innocent faces is a bombing mission. Over half a million of them dramatically illustrate the devastation that still affects the lives of remote villagers.

Scrap metal is an increasing part of the cash economy of villagers. A familiarity with bombs that have been part of communities for almost 40 years dilutes the fear and the cash paid by collectors rewards the risk takers. Every day scraps of metal are levered from the ground by hand, identified by crude detectors. Collected in rice sacks and melted down to become reinforcing rods for concrete. The risks are described in this part of the exhibit and photos show just how much a part of life these remnants of war have become. The craftsmanship and innovation is admirable, rice cookers, knives and boats are featured here, children playing around stacks of bomb casings in a strange juxtaposition of war and peace.

A small house illustrates the access problems for people in wheelchairs and gives a glimpse into rural life. Items made from UXO are displayed here and a radio documentary gives more insight into the scrap metal trade in Laos.

Stepping down out of the house leads you into a small shop, reminiscent of those in rural areas where a TV shows an interview with a family who lost their son. Hamm is not someone that can be helped now but his family wanted their story to be told and this exhibit does it justice. The low point reached, stories of recovery and rehabilitation follow.

Ta’s Story

Ta is a survivor and spokesperson for survivors of cluster munition accidents, his story is sadly too common. Out fishing with his two sons he saw a cluster bomb lying in the dirt. A poor fisherman with a large family to feed the temptation to throw it into the water to help catch fish was too great. Sending his children to hide behind a tree he approached the bombie. As soon as he touched it, it exploded. It took nine hours for his sons to get him to the medical care that saved his life. Ta lost both arms and one of his eyes in the accident, his family lost everything to pay for his medical care. Back at home he describes how he had to ‘eat like a dog’ until he was taken to the National Rehabilitation Centre where his care was funded by COPE.

Fitted with two artificial arms, photos show him back at home with his children, able to hold hands with the smaller ones again. For people who have lost lower limbs home made legs can be a way of regaining mobility. They are not comfortable and cause long term problems but a lack of awareness that there are services available means that for many people with disabilities they have to find their own solutions.

A display of legs hanging from the ceiling shows the levels of innovation, from simple bamboo to beautifully carved legs with ankle bones, all having obviously walked some distance with an owner who has eventually found their way to receive a properly fitting limb. The importance of a proper fit is underlined by the rest of the display that describes how the limbs are made and the level of training given by COPE to ensure a high quality service.

All the devices are made by local staff and an extensive training programme, including physiotherapy is also described. Treatment for club foot is illustrated and a mirror box gives a bizarre glimpse into the world of phantom pain often experienced by amputees. It isn’t painful! But the exhibit shows the ways that rehabilitation restores, rebuilds and repairs broken limbs and lives.

There is no entry fee to the COPE visitor centre but donations are appreciated. All proceeds go to fund treatment costs for patients which can be as little as 200 US dollars. The exhibition is open every day from 9 until 6, is air conditioned and has a small café attached. There is a small cinema and a resource area where you can learn more about the issue and the gift shop has a number of ways that you can show your support.

Be part of a success story, visit and help COPE help people move on.