Bangkok: International oversight teams from eight countries have commenced an investigative mission in Thailand, focusing on landmines, ceasefire agreements, and the status of prisoners of war. A delegation comprising 14 personnel from Brunei, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam began their visit by inspecting operations at the Second Army Area Operations Center, also known as Suranaree Forces.
According to Thai News Agency, the delegation's visit was initiated by the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, which coordinated the temporary observer team, Team IOT. The team spent three days visiting Chong Anma, Kritsana, and Chong Chuptamok bases to verify facts on the ground. Maj. Gen. Wira Yut Raksin, Deputy Commander of the Second Army Region, briefed the team on recent ceasefire violations by Cambodia, citing the GBC memorandum of understanding from August 7. The violations included hindrances to the National Mine Action Center's clearance efforts.
The itinerary for the visit included a stop at Chong An Ma in Ubon Ratchathani Province, followed by Pha Mor I Daeng in Sisaket Province. Here, the team received further briefings on ceasefire breaches. Later, they moved to the Kritsana-Prap Suek base near Phu Makhuea to observe activities conducted by the 2nd Humanitarian Bomb Operations Unit.
The visit also extended to the inspection of humanitarian conditions, with the team set to visit prisoners of war and Phanom Dong Hospital in Surin Province on August 20. There, they will assess the damage from a Cambodian BM-21 rocket attack. The final leg of their journey will take them to Chong Chuptamoek, where they will investigate reports of soldiers injured by landmines before returning to Bangkok.