Military attachés from 8 countries visited the area to survey the damage at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital. The Malaysian military attaché revealed that Thai soldiers are professionals. Meanwhile, the Thai side reported that Cambodia called to apologize to the soldiers who were making a scene at Chong An Ma. In the video, Captain Atom was seen as"drunk."
This morning (20 August 2015), the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters led a temporary observer team, the Interim Observer Team (IOT), from eight countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, to the Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, 80th Anniversary Celebration, Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province, one of the areas affected by the Cambodian attack on July 24th. The mission was to survey the damage for the final time and to observe and acknowledge Cambodia's violations of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War.
Dr. Worawan Koprakitngam, Director of Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, Mr. Ekanan Sri-in, Phanom Dong Rak District Chief, and other relevant officials welcomed the group in front of the hospital and briefed the IOT team and foreign media on the impact the hospital has suffered and the extent of the damage caused by Cambodia's BM-21 rocket launch into the area.
This includes providing an overview of the overall situation in Surin Province, which has been affected by the clashes since July 24th. There have been clashes along the 125-kilometer border from Phanom Dong Rak, Kab Choeng, and Sangkha districts, including Prasat. As a result, 5 districts, 25 sub-districts, and 296 villages have been severely affected, namely Kab Choeng, Phanom Dong Rak, Buachet, Sangkha, and Prasat districts. Nearly 200,000 people in the area have been affected, as have civilian lives and property. Initially, 102 houses, 3 temples, 1 hospital, and numerous agricultural areas have been damaged. Seven people have been injured and 10 have died, including an 8-year-old child in the case of Nong Nam Khong. There are 918 bomb shelters in the area, which can accommodate only about 15,000 people, so 154 shelter centers have been set up.
The representative concluded by saying, “I hope your visit will be able to collect and use all the useful evidence for your future purposes.”
He reiterated,"Today is the last day of the delegation's field visit, and you will be able to present the truth about Thailand's impacts. This is very important. I want to let you know that Cambodia has violated numerous agreements, and that Cambodia's responses on social media are all distorted. I urge those who have actually visited the area to see and consider this, in order to lead to further negotiations."
A video series,"Crying from the Border," was then released, which portrays the realities of the people in the affected areas, particularly civilian homes, schools, and the lives of people affected by the incident.
After the situation was summarized, Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvari outlined his intentions and points of consideration for the IOT military attaché team to consider three main issues: 1. Cambodia's continued use of weapons against the Thai side, particularly landmines, after the ceasefire agreement, which is a clear violation.
2. The use of drones flying into the area. We must determine whether drones are being used or whether there is additional reinforcement, especially along the border, as at Chong An Ma yesterday, for example, to protest.
3. The ongoing provocations, including fake news, in response to inaccurate information will result in more violence and conflict than the use of weapons. Cambodia's creation of fake news will create a situation that is waiting to erupt, including the addition of forces. Maj. Gen. Winthai emphasized,"Please consider the 13-point framework and ask the Internet of Things (IOT) to help look into it."
At one point, Brigadier General Samsul Rizal bin Musa, Malaysia's Assistant Military Attache to Thailand, communicated,"Today is my last day of visit. I will provide a concrete report to inform you and inform the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Army. I will identify three points of evidence: 1. The use of landmines; 2. The use of drones; and 3. Provocation and the use of false information, whether in statements or on social media. This is evident not just on social media. For example, yesterday, there was provocation using military force, and that was exactly what happened."
At one point, the Malaysian military attaché in Thailand said, “I don’t want to be sweet-talking, but the soldiers on that side are not professional. While the Thai soldiers are in good spirits, are gentlemen, and are very professional. We came and saw clearly what was happening without having to shout or chase anyone away.
He emphasized that the temporary observer team is not here to decide who is right or wrong, but to observe whether there is a genuine cessation of operations and to reassure people living along the border.
During the briefing, the Thai military representative explained that regarding the incident at Chong An Ma yesterday, the Cambodian side had contacted IOT to apologize and said that"the Cambodian soldier was drunk."
The IOT temporary observer team then surveyed the damage. Their first stop was the lawn in front of the flagpole at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, where the first BM-21 grenade landed. The deep hole was the first to be struck. Thai military officials and the hospital director explained that this was the first bomb to explode, and that the bomb disposal unit had destroyed it. They then proceeded to inspect a bunker that had been built in 2011, inspecting its condition to ensure it was still ready for use. This is also where hospital staff moved patients to seek refuge.
The IOT team then went to the area to survey the damage. The first stop was the lawn in front of the flagpole at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital. This is the spot where the BM-21 bomb first landed, which formed a deep hole. Thai soldiers and the Phanom Dong Rak Hospital director explained that this was the first place where the bomb exploded, and that the bomb disposal unit had already taken it to destroy it.
Then, they went to look at the bunker that had been built for use in 2011, and inspected the condition of the bunker to see if it was still ready for use. This is the point where 139 officials ran in and hid inside for more than 5 hours.
The IOT team later visited the Bhumipat Building, a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and psychiatric patients at the hospital. The building was damaged by a bomb that struck the roof of its second floor, shattering the roof and glass. An adjacent building also suffered damage from shrapnel, leaving holes in the walls. Repairs have yet to be made.
The director of Phnom Dong Rak Hospital explained to the group that the building in question was the one that was hit the hardest by the BM-21 bomb, causing over 12 million baht in damage. The hospital, which is a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and psychiatric patients, damaged the building's structure and shrapnel hit the surrounding walls. Hospital personnel were also found to be suffering from severe mental health issues, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Initially, 11 personnel were still receiving treatment. Later, Brigadier General Samsul Rizal bin Musa, the Malaysian Defence Attache to Thailand, thanked the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Army for allowing them to visit the site to inspect and confirm the truth. He said he would report the information later. He added that the visit was not to investigate and determine who was right or wrong; we were simply there to investigate.
When reporters asked if he encountered any surprises during his visit today, Maj. Gen. Samsul replied that there were many unexpected things. He added that the inspection of the damage wasn't limited to this area, but also to other areas. Captain Atom translated the interview into Thai.
