Thai - Cambodia Conflict Plodprasop’s Plan: Buy Cambodian Landmines to Clear Danger

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Thai Newsroom

 

In a troubling situation along the Thai-Cambodian border, five Thai soldiers have lost a leg each after stepping on landmines between 16th July and today, 14th August. Amidst calls for urgent action, former Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi has launched an unconventional campaign aimed at addressing these tragic incidents.

 

Plodprasop, formerly the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, announced his plan on Facebook, urging the public to support his initiative. This includes purchasing PMN-2 anti-personnel landmines from Cambodian soldiers for 10,000 baht (approximately 280 USD) each, with authorised delivery at any border checkpoint. His goal is to reduce the risk to Thai soldiers by removing these deadly devices from the border area.

 

In addition to this, Plodprasop is promoting various activities to foster patriotism among Thais:

 

• Displaying Thai flags and stickers on vehicles.
• Wearing Thai flag buttonhole pins, which he is seeking to purchase in large quantities due to their rarity.
• Hosting a contest for composing a patriotic song about Thai-Cambodian history, with a prize of 10,000 baht available. He is rallying support from former students of notable schools and universities to contribute further should the prize prove inadequate.

 

Plodprasop emphasises that the campaign is no joke, underlining his serious commitment to the cause.

 

Parallelly, Dr. Samart Ratchapolsit has also taken to social media, highlighting the profound impact on the injured soldiers. In a heartfelt post, he expressed concern over the soldiers' lost dreams and altered futures, stressing the need for “understanding” and “responsibility” from officials, rather than mere condolences.

 

Dr. Samart urged authorities to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further incidents and ensure comprehensive care for the affected soldiers. His call to action reinforces the sentiment that supportive measures must go beyond words to effect real change.

 

The situation has heightened awareness of the longstanding volatility along the Thai-Cambodian border and the devastating human cost of landmines. It underscores the urgent need for dialogue and cooperative efforts between governments to de-mine these areas and safeguard military and civilian lives.

 

The public’s engagement in these initiatives will be crucial in providing immediate relief and fostering a broader movement towards sustainable solutions. Both leaders' appeals highlight the need for unified national efforts to address and resolve these pressing safety concerns at the borders.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-08-14

 

[JoePai]

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