Surin’s Prasat Ta Kwai Beset by Mines After 9th Blast Injures Soldier
In the wake of yet another blast on Thailand’s eastern boundary, communities in Surin find themselves on edge as military engineers race to defuse a hidden menace beneath centuries-old ruins.
Key Points
• Sgt Maj Nititham Srikamsaeng suffered a critical injury to his left leg on 25 December near Prasat Ta Kwai.
• This marks the ninth Thai serviceman wounded by landmines in Surin since August 2025.
• Authorities discovered additional PMN-2 antipersonnel mines just 30 cm from the blast site.
• The Royal Thai Army has bolstered patrols with drones, K-9 units and explosive-ordnance disposal teams.
• Thailand is preparing a formal note verbale under the Ottawa Convention to protest unauthorized mine placements.
Surin’s Frontier Under Strain
Surin province, famous for its annual elephant festival, now finds its peaceful image tested by the rugged hills of Phanom Dong Rak. Just 300 m from the stone relics of the 11th-century Prasat Ta Kwai, Thai outposts have reported a sharp rise in mine encounters. Borderland tensions dating back to the 1980s Khmer Rouge era have resurfaced, placing both local villagers and soldiers at heightened risk.
The Latest Explosion
At 2:20 pm on Christmas Day, Sgt Maj Nititham Srikamsaeng of the 6th Engineer Battalion stepped on a hidden device while conducting a routine sweep. Fellow engineers administered first aid on the spot before airlifting him to Surin Hospital. Medical staff are working to stabilize his condition; commanders confirm that the blast tore through the lower left limb, demanding immediate surgery.
A Pattern of Peril
Since August, explosive-ordnance disposal logs show nine incidents within a 40 km stretch near Cambodia. Records include:
Mid-August: Two sappers injured at Prasat Ta Muen Thom.
Late August: A corporal loses a leg beside the Ta Kwai temple.
Early September: Three fresh PMN-2s uncovered on Hill 350.
Mid-November: Sixty UXOs—among them live grenades and RPG rounds—recovered at Ban Thai Niyom.
25 December: Sgt Maj Nititham’s wounding.
Evidence suggests these devices bear factory-fresh fuzes, implying recent emplacement rather than relics from past conflicts.
Fortifying the Perimeter
Under orders from the 2nd Army Region, patrols now deploy thermal drones at dawn and dusk, supported by explosive-sniffing dogs trained to detect plastic-cased mines. Lieutenant Gen. Chatchai Sukkasem emphasizes that clearing operations will continue through the New Year, with mine-clearance line charges and mechanical flails brought in to speed up the process.
Legal and Diplomatic Channels
Thailand ratified the Ottawa Convention in 1998, mandating prompt clearance of antipersonnel mines. Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are drafting a note verbale to Phnom Penh, urging Cambodia to explain the sudden flare-up of new minefields. If unaddressed, Bangkok intends to raise the issue at the upcoming meeting of state parties in Geneva.
Voices on the Ground
Local farmers, long dependent on cross-border trade, voice growing fear. “Our rice fields lie just beyond the temple,” says Somsri Prasertsuk, a village head. “Every farmhand now passes a scanner before heading into the paddies.” Meanwhile, the Fine Arts Department stands ready to restore any damage to Prasat Ta Kwai, warning that each shudder from an explosion chips away at the centuries-old sandstone carvings.
Charting a Safer Course
With both security and heritage at stake, Thai authorities face a complex challenge: neutralize clandestine mines swiftly while keeping diplomatic overtures alive. For Surin’s residents and soldiers alike, the hope is that 2026 brings not only a lasting ceasefire but also full cooperation in reclaiming these borderlands from buried explosives.
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