Synopsis: Prime Minister Hun Manet will inaugurate the PMN-2 landmine-shaped building. The 17-metre-tall, two-storey facility has a 52-square-metre footprint on a 108-square-metre base and spans a 14.8-hectare site.
The Techo Peace Museum, designed in the shape of a PMN-2 landmine and funded by Japan, is set to be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Hun Manet on December 3 in Siem Reap, with free admission for all visitors initially.
The announcement was made during the “ODA Press Tour 2026”, led by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Representative Yako Yoshito and Embassy of Japan Second Secretary Hijikawa Kento from Monday to Wednesday.
The Deputy Director of the Techo Peace Museum, Cheng Sengchhim, and the Deputy Director of the Administration Department of the Techo Peace Museum, Ung Raksmey, guided the tour.
Prior to the visit, EoJ Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Misumi Takahito on Monday said Japan has supported Cambodia’s mine action efforts, including mine clearance, for many years.
“The construction of this museum was completed in March this year with assistance from Japan, and the inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 3 under the presidency of Prime Minister Hun Manet,” he said.
Misumi expressed hope that the museum would become a place where visitors could gain a deeper understanding of landmines and help pass on the importance of peace to future generations.
According to JICA, the museum was developed under a project to construct a training complex and outreach facility for the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), expanding on the original museum completed in 2017.
The facility helped raise public awareness by welcoming students and visitors to learn about Cambodia’s history of conflict, mine clearance and post-conflict reconstruction.
However, limited exhibition space made it difficult to display artefacts and historical documents effectively, prompting Japan to provide grant aid for its expansion and improvement.
The wider project aimed to strengthen the capacity of CMAC and other relevant institutions in managing landmines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia and third countries, while promoting understanding of the country’s history, culture and peace building efforts.
It covered the construction and improvement of Technical Institute of Mine Action training facilities in Kampong Chhnang province, as well as the Techo Peace Museum and Public Outreach Center in Siem Reap province.
The project has a total budget of 2,751 million Japanese yen, equivalent to approximately $18 million, and was implemented from November 2022 to March 2026. Oriental Consultants Global served as the consulting firm, while Sato Kogyo Co Ltd undertook the construction.
The project also included an outdoor exhibition area within the CMAC compound, a demonstration site and surrounding infrastructure, including a public park and vehicle parking area.
The new museum featured 12 exhibition sections covering Cambodia’s history from the Khmer Empire to modern times, including Cambodia’s Wars and Year Zero, Post-war Cambodia, Explosive Remnants of War and Clearance Operations, Impacts of War, Testimonies of Victims and the Win-Win Policy and Peace Building. Other facilities include an audio-visual room, temporary exhibition space and briefing area.
The building, designed in the shape of a PMN-2 landmine, measures 52 square metres, spans two floors and stands 17 metres high. It sits on a base platform measuring 108 square metres, while the overall project site covers approximately 14.8 hectares in Trapeang Thom commune, Prasat Bakong district.
Behind the museum, the Mine Action Exhibition Hall featured 13 sections displaying Cambodia’s war history, explosive remnants of war, landmine clearance operations, cluster munitions, unexploded ordnance, demining equipment and training activities.
