After yesterday (20 Oct. 2025), the military has returned the last two plots of land to villagers in the Ban Nong Ya Kaeo area. The next plan is to continue demining Ban Nong Chan. Initially, it was found that the area near boundary marker 47 was a dangerous minefield that required a speedy demolition plan. To return it to a safe place for the villagers The area is an immigration center for Cambodians. that encroached into the villagers’ area, totaling 64 rai, the military is ready to seize it back But wait for orders from the northern unit first. Declared that if Cambodian soldiers intervened, they would definitely retaliate.
Colonel Chainarong Kasi, Commander of Special Task Force 12, Aranyaprathet, gave an interview to the PPTV news team on the news desk program about the mission of returning land to Nong Ya Kaew villagers. After Cambodia had been invading for decades, saying that from the military operation on 26 July. can push Cambodians out of the area and set up a line of barbed wire to protect himself After that, it was time to clear out the remaining mines.
The return of areas will be arranged in order of urgency. In Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, it was found that there was an area that the villagers could not use because of opposition from the Cambodian military. Including the remains of explosives, a total of 17 plots. Previously, there were 15 plots that had already been cleared of mines and returned to the villagers, before remaining the last 2 plots that were returned yesterday, plots 55 and 56 of Aunt Sompong and Uncle Sompong.
Colonel Chainarong said that the Nong Ya Kaew area is approximately 1 million, 200,000 square meters. Currently, officials have cleared nearly 1 million square meters of mines, leaving about 200,000 square meters in forest area. There was no urgency to clear the area and return the villagers.
Further revealed that The said area of 17 plots of Nong Ya Kaeo villagers has been confiscated for decades. This makes the area quite cluttered. There are many trees growing. Villagers do not have the funds to manage it. The Eastern Force, Army Region 1, therefore coordinated with Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters To bring tools to develop the area Let it go back to being an agricultural plot as before. which is currently awaiting budget allocation for operations
As for the next plan, it will be carried out in the Ban Nong Chan area. At this point, the soldiers operated and recaptured 60 rai, leaving 64 rai at the camp 511 evacuation center, where the soldiers had already prepared an action plan. Just waiting for orders from the northern unit on how to proceed.
As for clearing mines to return the area to use for the villagers. Initially it was found that Villagers have come to claim 8 cases, separated into 1 Miss 3 and 7 others from August 1, all 8 of whom have been able to make use of the area. There are only 2 plots that have not yet been cleared of mines. Of these, it was found that 1 plot was plot A, with an area of 32,000 square meters, near boundary marker 47, with many landmines remaining. Several days ago there was a survey of the area. Explore the boundaries to make a plan. They found 4 mines and are currently proposing a plan for the Royal Thai Police to go and clear out the mines.
As for the Cambodian houses that have encroached into Thai territory in the Ban Nong Chan area, Col. Chainarong said that some of them will be demolished to make operations on the Thai side easier. But some parts are still not demolished, especially those that are permanent buildings. because it is considered not urgent If we go to demolish it, it will take more time to do the work, but we confirm, “Right now we have control of the entire area. You can dismantle it at any time.”
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When asked about the Nong Chan area Will mine clearing operations be more difficult than Nong Ya Kaew? Because in the past, whenever Thailand made any moves at that point, the Cambodian side always sent the masses to obstruct. Col. Chainarong said that clearing mines was part of the ceasefire agreement. If Cambodia obstructs it again, it can record the incident and file a complaint. Or if and when they intervene in Thailand’s sovereign territory? We have a legitimate right to take immediate action. Using crowd control police to carry out operations against Cambodians. and has Thai military forces to take action against Cambodian soldiers “If something actually happens, we will definitely respond. We will not allow it.”
