Cambodia claims Thailand staged footage of landmine violations

Cambodia has accused Thailand of staging video clips and still images, allegedly showing Cambodian soldiers laying new anti-personnel landmines, in violation of the UN’s Ottawa Convention.

The Thai Navy’s mine action unit discovered a mobile phone during a recent clearance operation in the Phu Makua area of Si Sa Ket province, which the Thai military says contains video clips and still images of Cambodian soldiers laying new anti-personnel landmines.

An inspection of the device revealed images of Cambodian soldiers allegedly holding PMN-2 landmines.

According to a translation, the first clip, about one minute long, shows two soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms bearing Cambodian insignia, saying in Khmer: “Pull the pin. Do not squeeze. Pull the pin out. Slowly pull it out. Do not twist.”

Another clip shows a PMN-2 mine being buried, with the intended targets being the ankles of whoever triggers it. The instruction was to place the mines at the bases of 210 trees.

Cambodia’s Fresh News online media quoted analysts as claiming that any covert mine-laying would not be filmed or carried out in such a coordinated manner. Moreover, Khmer speakers from Thailand’s Surin province could easily pose as Cambodian soldiers, while military uniforms and insignia are readily available in local markets.