A Chinese man allegedly attempting to cross illegally into Thailand from Cambodia was injured on Saturday when he stepped on a landmine, the Thai army announced, reiterating its charges that Cambodian forces have been planting the anti-personnel weapons in territory claimed by both countries.
Army Spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree was quoted as saying that the area where the incident took place, claimed by Thailand to be part of its eastern province of Sa Kaeo, “is contaminated with landmines that Thai authorities are in the process of clearing according to plan”.
Statements posted online by the army did not give details of the injuries of the Chinese man, whom it identified as 26-year-old Shi Jingui from Yunnan Province.
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A statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand did not name the man but described him as being in stable condition.
Land mine explosions earlier this year along the border that wounded Thai soldiers helped spark five days of intensive fighting in late July. Disputes over exactly where the border should be demarcated have roiled relations for decades.
More recent incidents in which additional Thai troops have been injured by mines have threatened a ceasefire that ended the brief conflict. Repeating previous accusations, Saturday’s Thai army statement said “the abundance of evidence points to the continued use of new mines” by Cambodia.
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