Sisaket: A diplomatic mission is set to visit Ban Nong Mek, Sao Thong Chai Subdistrict, Kantharalak District, Sisaket Province, to investigate allegations of Cambodian attacks on civilian targets that resulted in the death of one villager and injury to another. The mission aims to verify claims of intentional targeting and assess damages caused by recent hostilities.
According to Thai News Agency, the damage in Nong Mek Village stems from a BM-21 rocket strike on the evening of July 27th. The attack killed one person and injured another, as shrapnel struck a pole and exploded upwards. Villagers noted that if the shrapnel had dispersed horizontally, it could have harmed two relatives who were nearby. The incident is cited as evidence of Cambodia's deliberate attacks on civilians, a violation of international law. A delegation of diplomats from nations party to the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines, will inspect the damage on August 16th. Locals report that Cambodia has consistently employed unconventional warfare, disregarding established rules.
The 2011 clashes in the same subdistrict resulted in damage to seven houses, but this year's hostilities have affected 11 villages and over 300 houses, with 29 sustaining severe damage. In light of these events, the village headman is urging the government to provide compensation, as villagers have invested significantly in building their homes.
Another location of concern is a heavily damaged convenience store inside a PTT gas station in Ban Phue, near Kantharalak District, where an indiscriminate attack on July 24th left eight people dead and 10 injured. The diplomatic mission will also inspect this site.
Beyond assessing damage to civilian infrastructure, the mission includes an important task of observing the 2nd Humanitarian Mine Action Unit's operations in the Phu Makhuea area near Preah Vihear Temple. This aligns with the delegation's commitment to the Ottawa Convention's objectives.