Thai Army has described the incident, in which three Thai soldiers were wounded after stepping on an anti-personnel landmine while erecting a fence along the Thai-Cambodian border, clearly shows that the use of weapons along the border persists and constitutes a blatant violation by Cambodia of the Ottawa Convention.
Army spokesman Lt Gen Winthai Suvaree was speaking after three Thai soldiers were wounded, one of whom lost his left foot in the first landmine explosion since both nations signed a 13-point ceasefire agreement on August 7.
The wounded soldiers are Sgt-Maj Thanee Paha, who sustained the serious injury, Pvt Parkpoom Chaisura and Pvt Thananchai Kraiwong, all of the 111th Infantry Company of the Second Army Region. All three were rushed to the provincial hospital.
Winthai said the army received a report on August 4, informing them that an army engineering unit had carried out a clearance operation and reinforced security in the Phu Makua area of Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket province, a former stronghold of Cambodian troops.
Found there were 18 PMN-2 anti-personnel mines, 16 of which were packed in sacks and not yet armed. Two were armed and placed above ground ready to detonate.
All 18 mines were removed by the engineering unit, along with a large number of grenade launcher rounds and RPGs.
The army spokesperson added that such actions pose a major obstacle to maintaining the ceasefire and resolving disputes through peaceful means and are further evidence that Cambodia has been initiating the use of weapons and laying new landmines.
During the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Malaysia last week, Cambodia rejected Thailand’s proposals for cooperation in clearing the landmines along the common border and in dealing with the scam operations in Cambodia.
Reacting to the incident, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told the media in Surin, while on an inspection trip, that he regrets that Thai soldiers were injured, adding that he has instructed the Thai Foreign Ministry to gather information about the incident, which will be raised at the next meeting of the Regional Border Committee (RBC).
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai
He also said that he has instructed Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa to file complaints with international organisations over alleged breaches of the Ottawa Convention.
