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Soldiers

Royal Thai Army Warns of Retaliatory Action Against Cambodia Over Landmine Explosion

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A graphic proof of Cambodia's breach of the ceasefire agreement, a landmine explosion that severely injured a Thai soldier, has prompted the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to warn of possible retaliatory action. The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday morning within Thai territory, is believed to have been deliberately planted to target Thai troops operating inside Thai territory. The RTA has accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, and the Ottawa Convention prohibiting the use of anti-personnel landmines.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Royal Thai Army has warned of possible retaliatory action against Cambodia after a landmine explosion severely injured a Thai soldier near the border.
  • The explosion occurred on Tuesday morning within Thai territory, about one kilometre from the border, and is believed to have been deliberately planted to target Thai troops.
  • The RTA has accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, and the Ottawa Convention prohibiting the use of anti-personnel landmines.
  • The incident has raised suspicion of Cambodia's refusal to accept Thailand's proposal to jointly clear landmines along the border, indicating a systematic plan to use the weapons to harm Thai forces.
  • The RTA claims that they have adhered to peaceful measures and have never opened fire first, but may invoke their right to self-defence under international law to protect Thai troops from Cambodia's repeated violations of the ceasefire and Thai sovereignty.
  • Sergeant Teerapon Phiakhantee, a Thai soldier, lost his left ankle in the explosion and is currently receiving treatment.
  • The explosion left a crater about 100 centimetres wide, with fragments of a PMN-2 landmine scattered around the site.

Statistics:

  • 1 kilometre: the distance from the border where the landmine explosion occurred.
  • 100 centimetres: the width of the crater left by the explosion.
  • 1 soldier injured: Sergeant Teerapon Phiakhantee, who lost his left ankle in the explosion.
  • 1 proposal rejected: Cambodia's refusal to accept Thailand's proposal to jointly clear landmines along the border.

Sources:

  • Colonel Winthai Suvaree, RTA spokesman
  • RTA (Royal Thai Army)
  • Ottawa Convention, prohibiting the use of anti-personnel landmines

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