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Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Dig deep in mine case
A landmine explosion that injured three soldiers, one of whom had his foot blown off, while patrolling the Thai-Cambodian border in Ubon Ratchathani province requires a thorough and transparent investigation. The incident that took place on Wednesday afternoon near Hill 481 in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen district saw Private Thanapat Huiwan lose his foot. Two other soldiers suffered chest pain. All three are now in safe condition. The incident poses a risk to fragile bilateral ties with Cambodia, which may consequently go from bad to worse. It is worrying that some political groups have jumped to the conclusion that the neighbouring country was responsible, given the proximity to the border. Activists cite the type of landmine, a Russian-made PMN-2 that is known as a cheap and very difficult to detect, to support their claim. However, it's far too soon to be pointing fingers. Phnom Penh immediately distanced itself from the incident. Heng Ratana, chief of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), said, "If the incident was within Thailand's territorial jurisdiction or control, then Thailand would know best about it." Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, who visited the injured soldiers in Ubon Ratchathani province yesterday, dismissed earlier reports which quoted military sources suggesting the mine was newly planted, not a war remnant. The minister asked for more time to investigate and verify. This stance is more than welcome. More importantly, the government must do its best in preventing any elements from politicising the incident, which will likely see the two sides trade blame. A similar landmine incident in 2008 at Phu Makheua, when tensions peaked, followed by open armed conflict, caused losses on both sides. Let's hope those involved learn their lesson from this chapter of history and see peace as the first option. It should be noted that Thailand's demining mission has been a great success. Most of the border areas are now mine-free. Mine-infested areas have been reduced to around 20 square kilometres across the country. It's unfortunate that border disputes with Cambodia pose an obstacle to the mine-free goal. In 2022, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government made a goodwill gesture, proposing that demining activity should be carried out regardless of overlapping borders to ensure safety for those living along the border. While Cambodia agreed in principle, it has barely made any contributions to this proposal that would see it translate into concrete action with positive results. In 2024, Cambodia threw cold water on another proposal that aimed to set up 10 pilot areas for de-mining without concerns regarding the border tensions. It's a missed opportunity for the two countries, which are signatories to the Ottawa Convention prohibiting the use of anti-personnel landmines. Thailand must prove, and present solid evidence, that it adheres strictly to the treaty. Back to Gen Nattaphon's investigation plan, the government must ensure transparency and straightforwardness, and that there is no foul play.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Thai army probing landmine incident on border
The Thai army is trying to find out whether a landmine that injured three Thai soldiers — one of whom lost a foot — was old or a newly planted one at the border with Cambodia in Ubon Ratchathani. The Second Army Region said on Thursday that it had instructed its explosive ordnance disposal unit to check on the contested border area where the incident took place to determine the type of the landmine and how long it had been there. 'The official result of the investigation is expected in two or three days,' it said. The investigation comes after a soldier stepped on a landmine while his group was patrolling from the Morakot Operations Base to Hill 481 at 1.30pm on Wednesday in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen district in the northeastern province. The three injured soldiers were sent to Sunpasitthirasong Hospital in Muang district of Ubon Ratchathani. They included Pvt Thanapat Huiwan whose left foot was severed at the ankle. He remained conscious while receiving first aid, saline solution and oxygen and was transported to the hospital on a helicopter. He underwent an operation and doctors were closely monitoring his condition to prevent infection. The other two soldiers, Sgt Patiphant Srilasak and Pvt Nathawut Srikhem, suffered chest pain. A military source said the soldiers had discovered a Russian-made PMN-2 anti-personnel mine. Subsequent searches revealed three more PMN-2 mines. Photographic evidence indicated the mines are recent deployments rather than remnants of old stock, the source said. However, Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, said it could not yet confirm if the mines were newly planted. It is expected to take a couple of days to establish the facts clearly, particularly concerning the type of mine and when it was laid. The army spokesman said border units would conduct further verification to determine whether Cambodian forces were involved in laying the landmines. Both Thailand and Cambodia are signatories to the Ottawa Convention, which officially prohibits the use of anti-personnel landmines, having ratified the agreement in 1999, he said. Chong Bok is part of Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani province. The area forms the so-called Emerald Triangle that borders three countries: Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. It was a battlefield between Thai and Vietnamese troops in 1973 when the Vietnamese chased Khmer Rouge soldiers fleeing Cambodia to the Thai border. Thailand and Cambodia held a short exchange of gunfire in the area on May 28 as a simmering border dispute between the two countries boiled over, with tensions remaining high to this day.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Soldier loses foot in landmine explosion near Thai-Cambodian border
UBON RATCHATHANI: Three Thai soldiers were injured, with one private losing his foot, when a landmine exploded in Chong Bok area in Nam Yuen district of this northeastern province. The Second Army Region reported late Wednesday night that a soldier stepped on a landmine while his group was patrolling from the Morakot Operations Base to Hill 481 at 1.30pm on Wednesday. The explosion injured three soldiers who were sent to Sunpasitthirasong Hospital in Muang district of Ubon Ratchathani. The injured soldiers included Pvt Thanapat Huiwan whose left foot was severed at the ankle. He remained conscious while receiving first aid, saline solution and oxygen and was transported to the hospital on a helicopter. He underwent an operation and doctors closely monitored his condition to prevent infection.
