I was on the border from 1990 - 1992 as IRC Printing Coordinator, followed by five years split between Aranyaprathet and Battambang in northwest Cambodia.
I worked regularly in Khao-I-Dang, Site II and Site B, my work took me to all of the camps on the border and into contact with their administrators - KPNLF, FUNCINPEC, KR and neutral Khao-I-Dang. I also had the opportunity to visit some of the KP / KR "Liberated Zones" in the vicinity of Banteay Chhmar and Chhmar Pouk.
In 1990 / 1991 I spent two weeks in Cambodia visiting Pnp, Kandal, Kompom Speu and Siem Riep.
In 1993, with a Khmer partner, Ouk Chheng and staff from all of my border projects we opened RCG Battambang; a hybrid development project / private enterprise. Together we provided a range of computer services in northwest Cambodia including training over 300 people in computer use. I progressively spent less time in the project and in 1997 handed over all responsibilities to Ouk Chheng.
1998, 1999 and 2000 saw me on 3 missions with MSF in South Sudan, Afghanistan and Ambon.
In 2000 I married an wonderful Ambonese girl, Maggie, in 2005 we had our first daughter, Elizabeth Evangeline, and we now live in Canada where, after 10 years working in relief and development, I have returned to my old life developing computer systems and now websites.
The road goes ever on..............
Richard Rowat
IRC Printing Site II with asst. supervisor, accountant and apprentice production scheduler.
