Thailand has decided to delay this Wednesday’s release of 18 Cambodian PoWs, after two Thai soldiers were injured, one of them losing his lower right leg, in a landmine explosion this morning, near the Cambodian border in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket Province.
Thai Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Nakpanich simply nodded and said “yes” in response to a reporter’s question today as to whether the PoW release will be delayed.
The Thai Army reports that, at about 9.30am, two soldiers were injured during a routine patrol in Huey Ta Maria of Kantharalak district, opposite the Preah Vihear ancient temple, when one of them stepped on an anti-personnel landmine.
The explosion instantly amputated the lower part of Mst-Sgt Permsak Samaphong’s right leg and caused severe chest pain to Pvt Wachir Thantana. Both were immediately evacuated from the scene of the explosion by their comrades and airlifted to the Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital.
Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon told the media that he had been informed, by Gen Chaiyapruek Duangprapat, the army chief-of-staff that the Second Army Region is currently investigating whether the landmine was laid recently, but the current assumption is that it was.
He said that, for now, the release of the 18 Cambodian PoWs is on hold, as he hinted at further consequences if proof is found that the landmine was freshly laid, adding that Thailand is filing a formal protest against Cambodia over the incident.
