PM Pledges Full Support for Landmine Clearance Operations
A Thai soldier lost his foot stepping on an old landmine in eastern Thailand, prompting PM Anutin to pledge full government support for ongoing demining operations along the border.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on July 31 that the government will fully support landmine clearance operations to protect national sovereignty, expressing sympathy for officers risking their lives in the work. His statement followed an incident in Ban Nong Chan, Kok Sung District, Sra Kaew Province, where a patrol soldier stepped on an old landmine and sustained severe injuries with loss of his left foot.
Anutin acknowledged that clearance personnel perform their duties with good intentions and concern for public safety, and that some deviation from planned routes may occur during operations. He stressed that such officers deserve full care and support from their commanders during each patrol. He clarified that the incident was not an attack but contact with an old landmine of unknown origin, being cleared in accordance with bilateral agreements between the two countries.
Regarding equipment and tools needed for clearance operations, the Prime Minister stated the government will provide full support for machinery and equipment necessary to protect national sovereignty. "I have discussed details with the military, and once we reach agreement, we will not hesitate on this matter," Anutin said.
