Three Thai soldiers killed by landmine [-សៀមអាចម៏គ្រី]

Wednesday, December 14, 2011
AFP

BANGKOK — Three Thai soldiers were killed and one was critically wounded when an old landmine exploded Tuesday as they were trying to defuse it on the country's border with Cambodia, a military official said.

The anti-tank device, thought to have been planted decades ago, was discovered in Klong Hat district, Sakaeo province, around 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of Bangkok.

"The three soldiers killed in the course of their work were aged between 45 to 50," said a local military official, who declined to be named.

Landmine and unexploded ordnance casualty figures rise in 2010

MAG works in the most heavily mined areas of Cambodia.

02 Feb 2011
Source: member // MAG (Mines Advisory Group)

The number of landmine and unexploded ordnance casualties in Cambodia rose by 17 per cent to 286 last year, underlining the continued need for MAG’s lifesaving work in the country.

Figures from the Cambodian Mine/Explosive Remnants of War Victim Information System (CMVIS) show that 71 people died and 215 were injured as a result of 150 accidents, the same accident total as recorded in 2009.

MAG focuses not only on removing as many mines as possible but on removing those mines that pose the greatest threat to lives, livelihoods and development. MAG’s operations in Cambodia are focused in the areas with the greatest number of landmine casualties.

Cambodia Clears, Detonates 820,000 Mines, UXOs [... since 1992]

2009-04-08
Xinhua

Some 820,000 mines and unexploded ordinances (UXOs) have been cleared or detonated since the kingdom initiated its demining action in 1992, national media said on Wednesday.

"Previously, we put the amount of mine areas at 43 million kilometers, and now it decreases to 427 kilometers," Chinese- language newspaper the Sinchew Daily quoted Prak Sokhon, secretary of state for the Council Ministers, as telling a press conference at the Institute for Peacekeeping Forces, Mine and ERW (Explosive Remnant of War) Clearance in the province on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 266 people died of mine and UXO accidents in 2008, over 352 in 2007, 800 in 2001 and some 2,000 in 2000, he said.

"Mine clearance aims to save people's lives and help push for development of the country," he added.

Around 30 years of war left large numbers of landmines and UXOs in Cambodia, especially at the border area with Thailand.