Thai PM Visits Border Troops After Landmine Incident

SI SA KET, Nov 12 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited a forward operating base near the Cambodian border to support troops after a landmine incident injured four soldiers, one losing a leg.

At Phu Ma Khuea Base in Si Sa Ket, the PM was briefed that the mine involved in the recent incident was newly planted, estimated at less than 24 hours old, along a Thai patrol route. Authorities noted this was the seventh such incident recently.

PM Anutin praised the troops and vowed the government would not yield territory. He stated that the incident violated past agreements, declaring that the government will now do what we see fit, and we will no longer be bound by any conditions.

The Prime Minister and his delegation handed out relief supplies to the soldiers. He then walked up Phu Ma Khuea hill, where he sang the national anthem with the officers.

"Today, we consider that the agreements we had to move towards peace are over," the Prime Minister stated. "From now on, the Thai government will proceed with what we see as beneficial for Thailand."

The Prime Minister later visited the injured soldiers in Ubon Ratchathani hospital, including Sergeant Major 1st Class Thoedsak Samaphong, who lost a leg. The PM promised the highest level of care, including advanced prosthetics and continued military service.  -819 (TNA)