Five villagers hunting for ant eggs in forest killed in two landmine explosions

[rooster59]

Five villagers hunting for ant eggs in forest killed in two landmine explosions

TAK: Five villagers going into the forest area of Tak province were killed and two others seriously injured when they stabbed on landmines while hunting for ant eggs and wild plants yesterday.

According to Wang Prachob and Muang district police, the five victims were killed in two related incidents at Ban Nong Maka in Tambon Pong Daeng of Tak’s Muang district.

The first incident was reported to Muang district police in the afternoon when one villager going into the forest area at Ban Nong Maka stepped on a mine while hunting for ant eggs.

The mine exploded and killed him on the spot.

The second explosion also happened at the same place but in late afternoon.

In this explosion, four villagers died and two seriously injured. All went hunting for ant eggs in the forest area.

Police from both Muang district and Wang Prachob were entering the forest area today to investigate.

The injured were admitted to Taksin Maharaj hospital for treatment.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/158872

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-09

[WitawatWatawit]

Wonder who planted the mines? Hostiles or friendlies?

Poor devils. RIP.

[craigt3365]

Seems it was done by the Myanmar government and the rebels. Sad.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130405/100255.shtml

[WitawatWatawit]

Well spotted, Craig - I was just hunting for that kind of info, or more specifically to the Muang area and who exactly operates there. Let's hope the new Burmese government gives this issue some consideration - these villagers should not have to have their lives put at risk in such a way. Just like in Laos and Cambodia.

[NickJ]

So a person hunting for ant eggs is killed by a mine, and later in the afternoon more are killed by another mine in the same area....Seems thay group was really hell bent to get those eggs......

[craigt3365]

So a person hunting for ant eggs is killed by a mine, and later in the afternoon more are killed by another mine in the same area....Seems thay group was really hell bent to get those eggs......

Poor villagers here typically gather lots of food from the forest. Ant eggs can be sold for money also. Seems many have been killed over the years by landmines.

[khwaibah]

So a person hunting for ant eggs is killed by a mine, and later in the afternoon more are killed by another mine in the same area....Seems thay group was really hell bent to get those eggs......

Poor villagers here typically gather lots of food from the forest. Ant eggs can be sold for money also. Seems many have been killed over the years by landmines.

What this poor BS. Its a social and way of life on the borders of Thailand .Cambodia and Myanmar. There is very little poor about these people.

[craigt3365]

So a person hunting for ant eggs is killed by a mine, and later in the afternoon more are killed by another mine in the same area....Seems thay group was really hell bent to get those eggs......

Poor villagers here typically gather lots of food from the forest. Ant eggs can be sold for money also. Seems many have been killed over the years by landmines.

What this poor BS. Its a social and way of life on the borders of Thailand .Cambodia and Myanmar. There is very little poor about these people.

I'm confused. I was saying they don't have money and yes, this is a way of life for them. I've been with many and done harvesting in the forest. Mushrooms, ant eggs, frogs, etc. Great fun.

[khwaibah]

So a person hunting for ant eggs is killed by a mine, and later in the afternoon more are killed by another mine in the same area....Seems thay group was really hell bent to get those eggs......

Poor villagers here typically gather lots of food from the forest. Ant eggs can be sold for money also. Seems many have been killed over the years by landmines.

What this poor BS. Its a social and way of life on the borders of Thailand .Cambodia and Myanmar. There is very little poor about these people.

I'm confused. I was saying they don't have money and yes, this is a way of life for them. I've been with many and done harvesting in the forest. Mushrooms, ant eggs, frogs, etc. Great fun.

I can accept your reasoning but it burns my arse when I see the westerner imposing his values on the Thai. Just saying. These people are not poor. BTW my wife uncle has two fingers missing by ordnance and we just buried a neighbor two weeks back that lost a leg by a land mine some 15 years ago. Neither of these are or were poor. Its a normal social gathering for the locales to go out in the areas for the local food.

Edited April 9, 2016 by khwaibah

[craigt3365]

I can accept your reasoning but it burns my arse when I see the westerner imposing his values on the Thai. Just saying. These people are not poor. BTW my wife uncle has two fingers missing by ordnance and we just buried a neighbor two weeks back that lost a leg by a land mine some 15 years ago. Neither of these are or were poor. Its a normal social gathering for the locales to go out in the areas for the local food.

I'm not imposing my values on the Thais. But I've spent a lot of time in these areas. And a lot of time in my Wife's village. They are Poor, no way to argue they aren't.

Just got back from the border areas in Myanmar also. Talk about poor. No running water, no electricity, etc.

Sure, not all are poor, but a vast majority of Thailand is poor. It's a fact. Sad as it may be.

Peace!!!!

[khwaibah]

Seems it was done by the Myanmar government and the rebels. Sad.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130405/100255.shtml

Seems its not. Front page Bangkok Post Thai Army old ordeance.

[craigt3365]

Seems it was done by the Myanmar government and the rebels. Sad.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130405/100255.shtml

Seems its not. Front page Bangkok Post Thai Army old ordeance.

One article says they were hunting for ant eggs. The other says they picked up the landmines on purpose and then they went off. And that the mines have just been laid by the Thai army!

Hmmm....

[Lupatria]

Hunting eggs- is it like hunting mushrooms and berries?

[khwaibah]

Seems it was done by the Myanmar government and the rebels. Sad.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130405/100255.shtml

Seems its not. Front page Bangkok Post Thai Army old ordeance.

One article says they were hunting for ant eggs. The other says they picked up the landmines on purpose and then they went off. And that the mines have just been laid by the Thai army!

Hmmm....

Happen in Sukhothai and Sukhothai is NOT on the border. This is another typical Thai media get out the news fork up.

[soalbundy]

Wonder who planted the mines? Hostiles or friendlies?

Poor devils. RIP.

The ants. One would think that the villagers living in such an area would know better

[zyphodb]

Villagers all over the north & North East of Thailand go out collecting Ant eggs at this time of year including my wife & most of the rest of the village & all the villages around, to come across land mines when they are doing it is hugely tragic whoever laid them.....

And as for you khwaibah, trying to say that the vast majority of villagers in the North & North East aren't poor is laughable, & matches your avatar nicely, presumably to have that attitude you have allowed some country girl to stitch you up in some way, shape or form...

Believe it or not, most are not like that & have a big day to day struggle just to live...

[tuanku]

Wonder who planted the mines? Hostiles or friendlies?

Poor devils. RIP.

Odd to call someone planting land mines "friendly". I think we have to assume the intent was somewhat hostile.

Hope the people going up to sort it out know what they are doing or there will likely be more casualties.

Edited April 9, 2016 by tuanku

[pattayahenry]

Seems it was done by the Myanmar government and the rebels. Sad.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130405/100255.shtml

the myanmar government never planted landmines in thailand- what a stupid assumption. very likely it were the karen rebels , to prevent myanmar troops to follow them into thailand.

[monkey4u]

Wonder who planted the mines? Hostiles or friendlies?

Poor devils. RIP.

[Jing Joe]

I can accept your reasoning but it burns my arse when I see the westerner imposing his values on the Thai. Just saying. These people are not poor. BTW my wife uncle has two fingers missing by ordnance and we just buried a neighbor two weeks back that lost a leg by a land mine some 15 years ago. Neither of these are or were poor. Its a normal social gathering for the locales to go out in the areas for the local food.

I'm not imposing my values on the Thais. But I've spent a lot of time in these areas. And a lot of time in my Wife's village. They are Poor, no way to argue they aren't.

Just got back from the border areas in Myanmar also. Talk about poor. No running water, no electricity, etc.

Sure, not all are poor, but a vast majority of Thailand is poor. It's a fact. Sad as it may be.

Peace!!!!

Can appreciate your "compassion" Graig.

And unfortunately the legacy of land mines continues world wide; Vietnam, and even now still in Papua New Guinea from WW2 where villagers unknowingly locate a cooking fire over ordinance. But they go further; not digging for ants but digging out the explosive material from ordinance to make fishing bombs.!! Deadly.

So sad that the ant diggers died.

Peace!!!!

[canuckamuck]

Seems it was done by the Myanmar government and the rebels. Sad.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130405/100255.shtml

Seems its not. Front page Bangkok Post Thai Army old ordeance.

One article says they were hunting for ant eggs. The other says they picked up the landmines on purpose and then they went off. And that the mines have just been laid by the Thai army!

Hmmm....

Happen in Sukhothai and Sukhothai is NOT on the border. This is another typical Thai media get out the news fork up.

Is this true? Sukothai is certainly not on a border, why would there be mines in Sukothai?

[khwaibah]

"Is this true? Sukothai is certainly not on a border, why would there be mines in Sukothai? "

The TV jump on the bandwagon brigade would like it it another way but it did NOT happen in Tak it happened in Sukhothai on a Thai Army Ordnance Range. Sukhothai is NOT on the border. Bangkok Post. So all the chest thumping on land mines being planted by god guys or bad guys in this case is pure BS.

[craigt3365]

Seems it was done by the Myanmar government and the rebels. Sad.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20130405/100255.shtml

the myanmar government never planted landmines in thailand- what a stupid assumption. very likely it were the karen rebels , to prevent myanmar troops to follow them into thailand.

If you read the article, you'll see they did plant mines along the border. Who knows exactly where, but there's no line in the jungle to tell you if you are in Myanmar or Thailand. It's heavily guarded and on the Myanmar side, has a variety of rebels who seem to be continually fighting. Thus the reason for the mines. Sick as that may be.

[craigt3365]

Interesting:

http://hlaoo1980.blogspot.com/2013/05/oic-paying-ssa-ywet-sit-to-let.html

At present SSA with more than 10,000 well-armed and trained troops supported by the Royal Thai Army has permanently maintained five major fortified bases - right next to the disputed Thai-Burma border line - namely Loi Taileng Base just opposite Pang Mapha District of Mae Hong Son, Loi Moong Merng Base just opposite Muang District of Mae Hong Son, Loi Lam Base just opposite Wiang Haeng District of Chiang Mai, Loi Hsarm Hsip Base just opposite Fang District of Chiang Mai, and Loi Gawwan Base just opposite Mae Fa Luang District of Chiang Rai.

I've seen the bunkers on the border near Mae Sot.

[craigt3365]

"Is this true? Sukothai is certainly not on a border, why would there be mines in Sukothai? "

The TV jump on the bandwagon brigade would like it it another way but it did NOT happen in Tak it happened in Sukhothai on a Thai Army Ordnance Range. Sukhothai is NOT on the border. Bangkok Post. So all the chest thumping on land mines being planted by god guys or bad guys in this case is pure BS.

Landmines have been planted on the border. That's a fact. But not relevant here. Supposedly. We've got 2 different stories. I've not been able to find another source. But I'd tend to believe the BP. Sadly, unable to provide the link here.

If the BP article is true, then they were planted by the supposedly good guys. The Thai army. And dug up by villagers nearby.

[khwaibah]

"Is this true? Sukothai is certainly not on a border, why would there be mines in Sukothai? "

The TV jump on the bandwagon brigade would like it it another way but it did NOT happen in Tak it happened in Sukhothai on a Thai Army Ordnance Range. Sukhothai is NOT on the border. Bangkok Post. So all the chest thumping on land mines being planted by god guys or bad guys in this case is pure BS.

Landmines have been planted on the border. That's a fact. But not relevant here. Supposedly. We've got 2 different stories. I've not been able to find another source. But I'd tend to believe the BP. Sadly, unable to provide the link here.

If the BP article is true, then they were planted by the supposedly good guys. The Thai army. And dug up by villagers nearby.

They are and were not land mines and they were not planted. This is a an ordnance range the the Thai military uses for practices. Unfortunately locals do go into these areas and this is what happens. This are is in Sukhothai which is not on the border.

[craigt3365]

"Is this true? Sukothai is certainly not on a border, why would there be mines in Sukothai? "

The TV jump on the bandwagon brigade would like it it another way but it did NOT happen in Tak it happened in Sukhothai on a Thai Army Ordnance Range. Sukhothai is NOT on the border. Bangkok Post. So all the chest thumping on land mines being planted by god guys or bad guys in this case is pure BS.

Landmines have been planted on the border. That's a fact. But not relevant here. Supposedly. We've got 2 different stories. I've not been able to find another source. But I'd tend to believe the BP. Sadly, unable to provide the link here.

If the BP article is true, then they were planted by the supposedly good guys. The Thai army. And dug up by villagers nearby.

They are and were not land mines and they were not planted. This is a an ordnance range the the Thai military uses for practices. Unfortunately locals do go into these areas and this is what happens. This are is in Sukhothai which is not on the border.

You won't give up will you? Do some research on landmines in Thailand. There a good one in the BP saying how they are still clearing landmines around Thailand, but down to 540 Sq KM now.

And yes, these mines were collected from a Thai army training field. So, you could say planted. Landmines are typically planted, even for training exercises.

Probably best this topic is closed as it may not be 100% accurate.