Cambodian troops accused of laying new IEDs near border at Prasat Ta Kwai

The Thai Army accused Cambodian troops today of laying an improvised explosive device (IED) close to the Thai border fence near the Prasat Ta Kwai ancient temple, in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province, in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

Army Spokesman Maj-Gen Winthai Suvaree told the media today that, at about 11.50am on Sunday night, Thai troops from the 27th Infantry Battalion found an IED, made of two mortar shells and a trip wire, near the border fence, about 1.7km from Mount 350 and near the Ta Kwai Temple ruins.

He said that the IED was intended to kill or maim Thai troops and described the incident as a provocative act by Cambodia to intensify border tensions, contradicting Cambodia’s claim to the international community that it is a "peace-loving" country while accusing Thailand of repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.

On August 22nd, Thai troops spotted a few Cambodian soldiers hiding near the border on the western side of Mount 350. A subsequent search of the area uncovered three PMN-2 anti-personnel landmines, two mortar shells and several spikes.

To prevent Thai troops from being injured by landmines, Winthai said the army chief, Gen Pana Klaewplodthuk, has instructed the Second Army Region to ensure that its soldiers exercise extreme caution while patrolling the border area and has ordered bomb disposal units to comb the area for hidden ordnance.