Army troops successfully deactivated three anti-personnel landmines on Friday, which had been planted at the stump of a Siamese rosewood tree (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) in the Phnom Dongrek wildlife sanctuary near the Cambodian border.
Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said today that the landmines were discovered by wildlife officials and troops from the Suranaree Task Force, who were on patrol to prevent illegal loggers from Cambodia poaching the precious Siamese rosewood on Thai soil.
According to a report from Bancha Prasertsri, chief of the wildlife sanctuary, three anti-personnel landmines were planted recently and were intended to harm Thai officials.
Atthaphon said he has instructed wildlife officials to exercise extra caution and to coordinate with the military when they are to patrol near the Cambodian border.
Recently, wildlife official Preecha Saikrachang accidentally stood on a landmine during a patrol in Huai Chan sub-district of Si Sa Ket province. He lost his left leg in the explosion.
