Stray shells hamper villagers’ return

Heartbreak as locals find homes bombed, writes Surachai Piragsa

- SURACHAI PIRAGSA

Authorities are intensifying operations to remove unexploded artillery shells and other munitions after weeks of cross-border fire from Cambodian forces left civilian areas littered with dangerous ordnance.

Police and military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units across Si Sa Ket, Surin and Buri Ram have been deployed as evacuated residents begin returning to their homes and farmland.

In Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district, police EOD officers visited a cassava plantation in Ban Phonthip yesterday afternoon after villagers discovered artillery shells embedded in the soil.

More than 200 shells have been found scattered around villages, farms, rubber plantations and cassava fields. Pol Lt Col Prawit Sutthawong, who leads the provincial EOD unit, said the munitions – 105mm artillery rounds – could not be safely moved so had to be destroyed on site. Residents took shelter behind designated barriers.

He said 13 shells have been destroyed so far, with some 200 unexploded rounds still scattered across the wider area. He warned villagers not to touch the objects.