Sisaket Province, Thailand – November 10th, 2025, A Thai soldier suffered severe injuries, including the loss of his right ankle, after stepping on a suspected anti-personnel landmine during a routine patrol near the disputed Thai-Cambodian border. The incident, which also left at least one other soldier with minor injuries, has reignited tensions in the region and led to the immediate suspension of key elements of a recently signed peace agreement between the two nations.
The explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time in the Huai Ta Maria area of the Kantharalak District, close to the Preah Vihear Temple—a UNESCO World Heritage site awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, though surrounding lands remain contested as Thailand does not officially recognize the International Court of Justice. The affected soldiers, identified as Sgt. Maj. 1st Class Thedsak Samaphong from the 16th Infantry Regiment and Pvt. Wachira Panthana, were part of a patrol unit from the Suranaree Task Force conducting route reconnaissance to secure the border. Both were airlifted to Ubon Ratchathani Army Hospital for emergency treatment, where medical teams stabilized their conditions. Thedsak’s injury required immediate amputation below the knee, marking him as the seventh Thai soldier maimed in this manner since border clashes escalated in July.
Initial assessments suggest the landmine was newly planted on a regularly patrolled path, prompting accusations of deliberate provocation by Cambodian forces.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, speaking at the National Police Headquarters in Bangkok, expressed deep concern and authorized a full suspension of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Declaration, signed on October 26th, 2025, under U.S. and Malaysian mediation. The accord aimed to de-escalate hostilities following months of sporadic clashes, including the repatriation of 18 captured Cambodian prisoners of war (POWs) scheduled for November 12th, which has now also been suspended.
“We will protect every inch of Thai sovereignty, but this act demands accountability,” Anutin stated, directing the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs to lodge formal protests with Cambodia, ASEAN, and the International Ottawa Treaty Implementation Committee. He also announced plans to visit Sisaket on November 11th to meet the injured soldiers and border communities. Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Narkpanit echoed the sentiment, ordering the 2nd Army Region to investigate the mine’s origin and reinforcing patrols with enhanced detection technology to prevent further incidents.
This event is the latest in a series of landmine detonations that have plagued Thai border operations since July 2025, when clashes erupted over undemarcated territories near ancient Khmer temples like Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom. Thai sources report at least seven such incidents, resulting in over a dozen injuries and seven limb amputations among Thai troops—all attributed to mines allegedly laid by Cambodian forces in violation of the ceasefire and international law.
Cambodia has consistently denied planting new mines, claiming remnants from past conflicts—dating back to the Khmer Rouge era and Vietnamese incursions in the 1970s—are responsible. Phnom Penh’s Defense Ministry has called for joint demining efforts, but Thai officials cite a lack of cooperation, including Cambodian refusals to participate in clearance operations during recent Regional Border Committee meetings. In response, Thailand has briefed international envoys and raised the issue at the UN.
The conflict has previously displaced hundreds of thousands of people, disrupted cross-border trade costing billions of Baht, and strained ASEAN unity.
In Kantharalak and surrounding districts, residents expressed grief and anxiety. Local villager Somchai Boonmee, speaking to reporters, said, “Our boys risk their lives for us, but when will this end? We just want safe farms and families.” Authorities have closed several border checkpoints and advised civilians to report suspicious objects to demining teams from the National Mine Action Center.
The RTA has pledged comprehensive support for the injured, including promotions, pensions, and family assistance, as seen in prior cases. As investigations continue, both sides’ militaries remain on high alert.
Developments will be monitored closely, with Thai officials urging global pressure to enforce demining and respect for the Ottawa Convention.
Photos: Royal Thai Army
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
