Paramilitary ranger Wilai Arom, who lost his right leg when he stepped on a landmine, waits for an artificial limb at Phramongkutklao Hospital.The Real Victim At Preah Vihear
Soldier waits to have artificial leg fitted after stepping on landmine at border
Sunday July 20, 2008
Story by APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Bangkok Post
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.
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.
13 comments:
I have never seen such a nation like Thailand has no shame demanding Khmers to return their PVH to them after the world court gave back to Khmers the rightful owner.
Khmer people from al political parties must unite and beat kick this Thai thugs.
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.
Wilai Arom is ethnic Khmer. He stated that he speaks Khmer.
Khmer Surin stop supporting Thailand. They want Khmer to kill Khmer....
he is enthic khmer but wore thai uniform, there he is thai, in war you better know your sides, besides enthic khmer in Essan has been helping khmer for centures, there is no khmer in essan but cambodians.
KHMER USA on the cenus ask what I am I say cambdoain.
That's what happened when you sent you stupid armies into a sovereignty nation.
Thailand deserve no respect from the world body.
This guy, i felt bad for him but for the sack of Cambodia's sovereignty we must plant more landmines.
Khmer must be strong we will defeat this greedy nation regardless of what kind of weapons they have.
So, what is good for? If the weapons they have can't do anything to Cambodia.
Send all my patrioticism to my Khmer soldiers.
And those Khmer in Thailand please stand up, it is time to rise up!
Rebel and reunite with the motherland!
I would like to share my own opinion about the disputation between Thai and Cambodia. I have the pessimistic feeling for the meeting of the both country on monday next week in Sra Keo province. WHY? Because there are many reasons:
1) The General Anupong Padjinda, supreme commander of Thai Army said we must send more soldier to the disputed area to presure on Cambodia side for their negotiation.They don't have willing to deal this problem by fair and equality.
2) The prime minister of Thai, Samak Sundaravej said for replying letter to Mr. Hun Sen that The Kirisvarak Pagoda called ( Wat Pra Sat Preah Vihear) is locted in Thai sovereignty. But the real situation, it is in Cambodia sovereignty by legal of international law (ICJ decision 15 June 1962, The Franco-Siam treaties in 1904 and 1907, 46 years without proclaim this area belong to their country) and the historical area ( The Cambodian people have been living there too long year ago).
3) The representative of Thai for this meeting is Genaral Boonsang Niempradit. He is just a deputy chairman of Thai's GBC only, he does have the power to decide their decision and ordre to the thai soldier. the main powerful is in the hand of General Anupong Padjinda, a supreme commander of Thai Army.
4) The most powerful man is General Anupong Padjinda, not Prime minister Samak Sundaravej. Samak is hasitate to decide because he faces many enemies such The General of Army group, politicians of opposite party, King Phomvibol Adulyadeth, Adhisit Vejjajiva, leader of PAD and so on.
So it mean this meeting on monday in Sra Keo in null value for the both country.
According these points, we put the question how to deal this tension? the answer:
The firstly, the both country must try to find the solution by faithful negotiation. if no solution the both country must complain to ASEAN, UN's security council, ICJ(international Court for Justice) and UN because the both country are a member of ASEAN and UN. So the both country must respect the UN rule and UN's decision. if the any country don't respect the UN's desicion, The UN must kick out that country from the UN's member like UN has done on Taiwan and then UN must the UN's force to disputed area such KFOR at Kosovo in Serbia, UN's force at Darfu in Sudan and Estern Timor and so on. UN must protect the small and weakness country by international Law. I think it is the time for Cambodia follow this way to prevent the civil people and soldier life of the both country.
I hope the both will be glad to get this cool solution, they don't want to fight because of provoking of some small ultra-nationalist group. These small group don't represent the whole country. They are a just a small group who want to get power by using the extreme nationalist idea, they don't care the civil people, soldier life, economic in their country and whole area. They are the idiot people!!!
From Ramy, Chungnam University, South Korea.
Khmer Surin didn't support ah Thai Pol Pot, but they are forced to do it. In every house of Thai people have to display the picture of King Bhumibol; or they will be thrown to jail or be shot to death.
''Thai and Cambodian soldiers have very good relations because of the language. We speak Khmer and the language destroys all barriers,'' said soldier Wilai Arom whose leg got blown off by the mine explosion."
Speaking Khmer!!!???? So why are you Khmer-speaking people still serve ah Nan Chao Siems for??? Grow some spines and liberate yourself and rejoin mother Cambodia!!! Don't you see, ah Nan Chao Siems are using our natural resources, our human resources, and our money and in this case your life itself. Stop serving the Nan Chao Siem freaks and liberate yourself now!!! You must never kill another Khmer person from Cambodia. You must protect Mother Cambodia at all cost as long as you have any Khmer blood, no matter, now little running in you and your genes. Liberate yourself now!!!!
god's first sign of warning to thailand for invading cambodia? god bless cambodia.
Word of cautions for the Thai! The landmine was not a leftover from the Pol Pot era...... it was place there simultaneously during the UNESCO verdict. You said that it was from the Pol Pot era just to justify your stupidity.
It's so clear that the "disputed land" belongs to Cambodia.
Like old saying, "wherever there are palm trees, it is cambodian land." But I should add,"whenever you step on a landmine, you are in Cambodia."
10:08 PM
No Khmer Surins to reunite with you poorer Cambodia unless making Surin Cambodia's Capital!
LOL
To the soldier's family:
Your wife and relatives are happy to defend Thailand. We, Cambodian, are happy to destroy your leg because you invade our country. If Khmer soldiers step 1 foot into Thailand, The Thai will send their military power to squash our soldiers. But, now Thailand invade Khmer territory and Hun Sen do nonething about it.
We need to teach Thai a lesson to see who is stronger than who. We need to kill Thai people because they kill us too many during 1980. We should not forget those days when we crossed the border.
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