Thailand shows foreign envoys humanitarian toll of landmines newly planted by Cambodia

Representatives from 33 countries, including ten ambassadors, took part in a field trip, organised by Thailand, to observe sites affected by landmines allegedly laid recently by Cambodian troops.

The foreign envoys will also inspect landmines retrieved from border areas by the Thai military, which, Bangkok claims, provide evidence that they are not remnants from the past, as claimed by Phnom Penh.

The ambassadors came from the Philippines, the European Union, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Italy, the Holy See, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

Norway, France, Switzerland, Austria, Finland and Portugal sent their chargés d’affaires.

Meanwhile, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, China, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam, South Korea, Sweden and Peru also sent representatives to join the one-day trip.

Two international organisations, the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation and Norwegian People’s Aid, also took part.

All the participating countries are signatories to the Ottawa Convention and observed the operations of Thai demining units at Phu Makua, one of the scenes of fierce fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces late last month.

The envoys were also taken to visit a school in Sao Thong Chai sub-district of Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket province, which was seriously damaged by a Cambodian rocket attack.

The trip concluded with an inspection of Ban Nong Mek, in Kantharalak district, where civilian homes were damaged by Cambodian armed attacks.

The tour was organised to present foreign envoys with factual information supporting Thailand’s allegation that Cambodia has recently laid mines, which are maiming Thai soldiers and posing considerable danger to civilians.

Thailand said it hopes the visit will shed light on the realities on the ground and the humanitarian impact of landmines, with their indiscriminate and inhumane effects.