Thai army has right to retaliate against Cambodia to protect troops – Lt Gen Boonsin

The Second Army Region commander has accused Cambodia of provocation and violating the ceasefire deal after a ranger became the latest soldier to lose his leg by stepping on a landmine newly planted by Cambodian troops.

Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang said laying new landmines was equivalent to an act of firing weapons, which clearly breached the ceasefire.

Asked what would happen if Cambodia refused to cooperate in removing landmines and Thai soldiers continued to be injured, Boonsin said, “Thailand might justify a forceful response. While negotiations would continue, Thailand has the right to defend and protect its troops.”

He added that patrol plans will be adjusted to ensure troops do not risk stepping on Cambodian-planted landmines, including increased CCTV use and the deployment of heavy machinery to clear patrol routes instead of sending personnel.

“This will protect our troops. In addition, we will step up long-range monitoring,” Lt Gen Boonsin said.

The government had been informed and the matter will be escalated to an international protest, he said, adding Army commander-in-chief Gen Pana Klaoplodthuk has requested urgent information about the matter to lodge a protest with Cambodia.

Sgt Teerapol Phiakhantee of Ranger Company 2610 stepped on a landmine while on patrol near Prasat Ta Muen Thom in Phanom Dong Rak district, Surin province this morning, resulting in the loss of his left leg.

He is now in stable condition. Teerapol became the fourth Thai soldier to lose his leg to landmines newly planted by Cambodian troops. Thailand has protested to the United Nations, alleging Cambodia of breaching the Ottawa Convention.

Boonsin said the incident occurred at the barbed-wire fence line on the western side of the temple and about one kilometre away, in an area known as Chong Chup Ta Mok.

It is suspected that Cambodian forces planted the mine during a period when Thai troops had withdrawn.

Thai soldiers were checking the barbed-wire fence line, which lies inside Thai territory along a regular patrol route.

Although the landmine issue will be raised in the upcoming Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting, Boonsin believed Cambodia will not admit responsibility, just as they avoided the topic during the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Malaysia.

Lt Gen Boonsin said that if the situation were calm, the Humanitarian Mine Action Centre should be allowed to remove the mines.