Thai deminers look for mines at a Cambodian Buddhist temple complex near Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, Sunday, July 20, 2008. A Cambodian general said Sunday that he has little hope that upcoming talks between his government and Thailand will resolve a tense border dispute that has seen hundreds of troops face off around an ancient temple. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
A Cambodian soldier carries a shoulder-launched grenade launcher while guarding a road which leads to the ruins of Preah Vihear temple near the Thai-Cambodia border on July 19. Upcoming talks between Cambodia and Thailand are unlikely to resolve the military standoff at the disputed border point, a Cambodian commander has said(AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
Cambodian Buddhist monks stand in front of the entrance gate of Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, Sunday, July 20, 2008. A Cambodian general said Sunday that he has little hope that upcoming talks between his government and Thailand will resolve a tense border dispute that has seen hundreds of troops face off around an ancient temple. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
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Below is Bangkok Post Article about one Thai Soldier who was the victim of Landmine.
My comment: This is just the first lesson for Thai soldier who serve the foolish Ambition of the extreme-nationalists. It is stupis comment by Mr. Wilai's wife that she was not sadden for Mr. Wilai's determination to protect their country. She should say that she is happy that her husband lost his leg because he invade Cambodia and she will look for another man for his replacement. Stupid Thais...
Every night on Ratchadamnoen avenue the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stand on their stage and demand the return of Preah Vihear temple to Thailand from Cambodia.
Near the border in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, members of the Dharmayatra group have been staging their own protests and have been pushing for the eviction of Cambodian people living in the disputed area.
Both groups are targeting Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet members, who, according to the groups, must be ousted for mishandling the issue.
But the real victim of the dispute is soldier Wilai Arom.
The paramilitary ranger from unit 2301 is in Phramongkutklao Hospital waiting to have an artificial leg fitted.
He stepped on a landmine on Tuesday while on duty guarding the border at Phu Makheu, near the temple. He was rushed by helicopter to the hospital at the Sapasitprasong military camp in Warin Chamrap district in Ubon Ratchathani. The blast from the landmine was so strong his right leg was blown off.
The landmine blast caught the public's attention, but his case is gradually being forgotten as people return to day-to-day developments in the military stand-off between the two countries and attempts by both governments to ease tensions.
Despite his unfortunate accident, Mr Wilai is in good spirits.
While Thailand and Cambodia are rushing more troops to the area, he said he hopes there is a way to end the conflict quickly due to the close ties between people from the two countries and between their soldiers.
''Thai and Cambodian soldiers have very good relations because of the language. We speak Khmer and the language destroys all barriers,'' he said.
''We share food and cigarettes and play sports together. Many Cambodian soldiers used to come to shop at the Pha Mor E-Daeng market,'' he recalled of the days before relations became strained.
He is confident nothing can change the good relationships at local level and said all Cambodians and Thais living in the area were looking forward to the same thing.
''Local people in Cambodia and Thailand would like to see the situation return to normal as soon as possible. They want to get on with their lives and get back to normal,'' he said.
''I hope the leaders of the two countries urgently discuss the issue and come up with the best solution,'' he added.
The 48-year-old from Si Sa Ket has spent more than 20 years in the armed forces and his first mission was at Chong Bok pass in Ubon Ratchathani's Nam Yuen district.
On his last mission last Tuesday, the Thai-Cambodian border area was tense after three protesters from the Dharmayatra group _ Phra Khampheng, Vicharn Tabsorn and Chanikarn Kengnok _ went into the overlapping zone to stage a peaceful protest and were arrested by Cambodian soldiers. They were later released but decided to stay on and meditate until Friday, when they were joined by other members of their group at the border.
As protests against the government and demands for the return of the temple continue, Mr Wilai warned people not to become the ''victims of circumstance''.
''We are Buddhists so we should follow Lord Buddha's teaching of generosity. We must exercise consciousness to make better judgments during this sensitive situation, which requires strong understanding,'' he said.
The landmine explosion reminded the government of the dangers in the area.
''The incident has caused concern with Thai authorities as more landmines remain in the area, posing a danger to both civilians and military personnel,'' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The army has sent deminers into the area, it added.
Mr Wilai's wife Nittaya, who rushed to see him, along with their two sons and neighbours, at the hospital on Tuesday, said she and her family were not saddened by what happened as he was on duty and protecting the country's sovereignty.
Second Army chief Lt-Gen Sujit Sithiprapa promised Mr Wilai would not be without help as the army would support him and his family.
The PAD on Friday donated 100,000 baht. PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan praised Mr Wilai for his determination to protect the country.
Mr Wilai now plans to spend his retirement with his family in Si Sa Ket and will keep the money to help with the education of his daughter, who is studying at Rajabhat University in the northeastern province.
Cambodia leaders must give diplomacy a chance! But how can Cambodian leaders give diplomacy a chance when the Thaicong government blatantly violent Cambodian sovereignty already without giving peaceful diplomacy a chance! At the end of the day, Cambodian leaders and Cambodian people must come to term that the Thaicong government never want any Cambodian peaceful diplomacy and Cambodia must prepare for war!
Only one word for Siem! they all are Stupid.
I will never use Thai products or service or visit Thailand. They all are two tricky, tow faces human.
Thais are stupid.
In the world, there's only Thais who love doing studping things, claiming Khmer Preah Vihear Temple and Land which was accepted internationally.
Stupid Thais teach their yound generation wrong history such as "Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear" are belong to Thai. Of course not, Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear are belong to Khmer. They were built by Khmer People with Khmer Culture on Khmer Land and Teritory. While Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear Temple were constructing, Thai (Siem) didn't really start to understand what the culture was. We could not find where the Thai were exactly located. Siem mean Thief, so they could live on the sea or island and rob the people... :)
Agree my friend landmine are dangerous, a troops of elite soldiers with only one leg each is not very efficient.
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