It’s Friday. Around 5 pm. A ground floor workstation, usually full of movement has gone quiet. Most machines have been turned off and lights are slightly dimmed. Mounted onto wooden boards and parked in the centre of this factory floor is a demining machine and former war hero, who just arrived back at GCS’ warehouse in Germany after spending several years in Colombia. Paying witness to this is 54-year-old technician Paulo Dias. For nearly a decade he has been involved in operating and maintaining mechanical assets used to clear contamination and even wrote guidelines about best practices within this industry.
Speaking from his home in Portugal he says, “I operated that machine, I trained people with that machine. Others worked with it, but I spent most of the time with it.” Version one in a series of models, this GCS-100 still looks solid, but some wear and tear is visible. A large sticker of the USA’s flag can be seen on its lefthand side. As hydraulic springs keep its four side panels elevated in the air, something suggests this machine has lived.
Survival techniques
For over half a century, armed conflicts between the government and guerrilla movements such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) caused major damage and ended far too many lives. Although a historic ceasefire was reached in 2016, outbursts are not unheard of, while Explosive Remnants (ER) still scar the land.
The South American country is renowned for its resources, making it a top exporter of substances such as coal, coffee and gold. Colombia is also where the infamous coca plant grows, an essential ingredient in cocaine production. Operations such as the War on Drugs, spearheaded by the United States, stand in direct conflict with alleged cartel-linked syndicates and related militia who use mines to help maintain territorial control.
Compact and competent
“The machine was first sent to Colombia in 2017 to do demonstrations,” says Dias, as he describes the main purposes of the GCS-100. Ground processing involves ploughing the soil down to a range of 13 centimetres. This is because the centimetre depth at which most landmines get buried for detonation is 13, explains Dias. A more direct approach is ground preparation whereby tillers, equipped with hammers and chains, set out to damage, detonate or destroy explosives. Trained staff can then trace a cleared path for potential hazards with more confidence and less risk.
Reducing environmental damage is another test the GCS-100 passed. Dias mentions how their tests proved that over time, this machine caused less harm to the local vegetation in comparison to human demining. Experiments showed that human demining led to the compression and removal of foliage that took almost one year to regrow. However, this machine “shreds the vegetation and mixes it back into the ground to form a compost which accelerates new growth.”
Collaborating efforts
The mentioned hostilities have placed a massive strain on local communities that are at risk of stepping on explosives hidden in remote and wilderness regions. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Colombia says that since 1990 well over 12,000 people are known to be victims.
Dias emphasises why bringing attention to work done within this industry is vital. “It’s something we take for granted, kids in Colombia must walk nearly 30 km to and from school and are tempted to find the fastest route and end up walking where they shouldn’t.”
Initiated by the United Nations, International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is held annually on the 4th of April. Now in its 17th year, the day is in part aimed at better informing the public about the plight of victims while offering forms of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE).
Restoration project
“I never wanted a medal for my work there,” says Dias. Still, his tone of voice implies that he is proud to have played an effective role in Colombia’s peace process. As for the GSC-100, several later versions of this machine have already been released. While such chronicles depict dynamic stories of where the machine has been, of interest is where it’s scheduled to go. When work resumes on Monday, mechanics will continue restoring this model so that it can help affected communities elsewhere. A fitting tribute for a veteran, returning home for a well-deserved upgrade, aptly gearing it up for its next challenge.