THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER
Thai rangers lose legs in blasts near border
POST REPORTERS
SI SA KET : Two soldiers were injured after stepping on landmines while patrolling near Preah Vihear temple in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district yesterday.
The blasts took place near the Thai-Cambodian border, inside Thai territory near Phu Ma Khua, where Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed on Friday, leaving two Thai and three Cambodian soldiers injured.
The explosions tore both legs off volunteer ranger Somboon Kingwichit, 42, and the left leg of volunteer ranger Boonsit Sanahha, 46.
Eyewitnesses said the first mine went off at 10.10am and another explosion followed 10 minutes later. Both men were airlifted to the Sappasit Prasong Camp hospital in Ubon Ratchathani.
Bomb squads rushed to the scene to clear the area, which is about one kilometre to the west of Preah Vihear temple.
After the explosions, Cambodian soldiers in the area were reinforced. Troops from both sides were standing guard in their territory.
Despite the two incidents, Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said any problems could be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
Gen Chavalit said he assigned former deputy army chief Gen Vichit Yathip to coordinate with Cambodia ahead of the visit to Phnom Penh by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Monday.
Defence permanent secretary Gen Apichart Penkitti said Mr Somchai was concerned about the border dispute and sought Gen Anupong's comments.
Gen Apichart said the clashes erupted due to a misunderstanding. The last time, a gun was accidentally fired by the Cambodian military, he said.
The foreign minister said the government was looking into the landmine blasts to verify whether they were new mines or planted during the Cambodian civil war. The area was a Khmer Rouge stronghold before it surrendered to the government. Mr Sompong believed the mines were the product of the internal fighting in Cambodia in the 1970s.
The foreign minister was confident that talks between the Thai prime minister and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen would help ease border tensions.
Key issues in their meeting in Phnom Penh include a plan to reduce troops, and talks on the Joint Boundary Commission to try to demarcate the border.
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