WITH five Thai soldiers having lost a leg each after stepping on landmines along the Thai-Cambodian border from July 16 till today Aug. 14 former deputy prime minister Plodprasop Suraswadi has now launched a campaign to buy them from Khmer troops at 10,000 baht each, Amarin TV and TV Channel 7 said.
In his Facebook post Plodprasop, who is also former permanent secretary of the Ministry of National Resources and Environment, invited the public to join the following activities to show their patriotism:
– Purchase a PMN-2 anti-personnel landmine from Cambodian soldiers at 10,000 baht each with delivery to be allowed at any border checkpoint;
– Attach a Thai flag or Thai flag sticker to your vehicle;
– Wear a Thai flag buttonhole pin on your lapel. They are very rare now and if any shop has them he wants to buy 1,000 immediately;
– A contest to write a patriotic song about Thai/Cambodian history with Plodprasop offering 10,000 baht prize;
– If the prize offered is too low, he invited his former students at Mater Dei School, Bangkok Christian College, Triam Udom Suksa School and Kasetsart University to contribute.
He added that he is not joking and is serious about this campaign.
Meanwhile Dr. Samart Ratchapolsit said in his Facebook post that for the five Thai soldiers who lost a leg each in landmine blasts during approximately a month from July 16 to Aug. 14 is also the loss of their dream for the future, the well-being of their family with their life forever changed.
“Their dreams may be different, but their hearts remain patriotic. They don’t expect comfort from anyone, but rather ‘understanding’ and ‘responsibility’,” he wrote.
What the authorities should offer these soldiers are not words of comfort but tangible change by taking urgent action to prevent such blasts from occurring again and providing the utmost care for them, he added.
CAPTION:
Former deputy prime minister Plodprasop Suraswadi and some PMN-2 landmines. Photo: Amarin TV
Also read: Another ranger loses leg after stepping on landmine
Cambodia-based scammers’ income equals cost of nearly 300 F-16 jets
Thaksin-donated, Chinese-made drones might put Thai army units at risk
Paetongtarn might resign before verdict on August 29: Somchai
Young Owls dump Bolton Wanderers out of Carabao Cup
Owls tipped as first Championship side to be relegated
