Plantations cleared of 120 shells

Bomb disposal teams say they have found more than 120 shells from the recent Thai-Cambodian border conflict, mostly in rubber plantations, as operations continue to make agricultural areas safe in Ban Kruat district of this northeastern border province.

- SURACHAI PIRAGSA

The shells were remnants of clashes along the frontier during Dec 7-27, when a ceasefire was finally declared.

Some had failed to detonate, posing a serious risk to farmers returning to their fields. In one plantation, five shells were discovered yesterday in tambon Chanthobphet of the same district.

Authorities have so far recovered 121 shells, 116 of which had exploded. Five unexploded shells were taken for controlled disposal procedures. The ordnance included artillery rounds as well as 60, 82 and 100mm mortar shells.