ASEAN IOT visits Chong Chup Tamok site, uncovers new landmine
The ASEAN Interim Observer Team (IOT) visited the Chong Chup Tamok area in Surin province on Wednesday, where they discovered another unexploded device early in the morning.
The area near Ta Muen Thom Temple was where Thai soldier Sgt Teerapol Piakantee, of the 2610th Infantry Battalion, stepped on a landmine on August 12.
Officials explained that the area is typically secured with three rows of barbed wire, a measure in place since 2011. This is Thai territory, while beyond the wire, Cambodian forces have the ability to move through the terrain.
Prior to the incident, routine patrols took place on August 10, but heavy rains prevented operations on August 11, officials explained. On August 12, the Thai soldier stepped on a landmine, prompting a bomb-disposal team to clear the area, where they uncovered three additional explosives nearby.
The observer team was then taken to the site where Teerapol stepped on the mine. Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) officials explained the situation and pointed out the three other mines that had already been cleared.
In another sweep this morning, an additional explosive device was found just a few hundred metres from the original blast site.
It is suspected that Cambodian forces may have covertly planted the latest landmine overnight. Personnel at a nearby base reported hearing the sound of bottles attached to the barbed wire, indicating movement near the perimeter.
During the briefing, the Malaysian Defence Attaché asked the soldier who was with Teerapol about the distance between them when the explosion occurred. The soldier replied that he was about one to two metres away, which left him with temporary hearing loss.
After the briefing, the Malaysian Attaché embraced the soldier in a gesture of solidarity.
