Phnom Penh calls Thai landmine accusation “unsubstantiated”

Cambodia’s Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has refuted Thailand’s accusation that Cambodia has violated the Ottawa Convention by laying new landmines.

The CMAA stated that Cambodia’s position is unequivocal. “We have not, and will not, plant new landmines. Cambodia is a proud State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which it ratified in 1999, and has an internationally recognised record of removing, not deploying, these indiscriminate weapons,” it said.

The Thai military claims that three soldiers, who were preparing to lay more barbed wire on Thai territory along the Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket province, were injured in a landmine explosion yesterday morning.

One of them lost his left foot. They were the latest victims of landmines newly planted on Phu Ma Khua hill, a former Cambodian stronghold, the Thai army said.

Despite repeated denials from Cambodia, the Thai army insists that many pictures of Cambodian soldiers, taken in a temple, clearly show new anti-personnel mines beside them.

Moreover, the soldiers injured in the three landmine explosions, including yesterday’s, were operating in Thai territory.

Despite repeated denials from Cambodia, the Thai army reiterated that many photos of Cambodian soldiers taken in a temple clearly show new anti-personnel mines beside them.

Thailand showed foreign envoys and military attachés visiting the sites in Si Sa Ket province that were attacked by Cambodian troops in late July photos of Cambodian soldiers at a disputed temple, which clearly showed new anti-personnel landmines beside them.

Moreover, the soldiers injured in the three landmine explosions, including yesterday’s, were operating in Thai territory.

According to the CMAA, over the past three decades, Cambodia has cleared more than one million mines and nearly three million explosive remnants of war, saving countless lives and restoring land to communities.

No official, transparent investigation has been carried out regarding the reported incident involving the Thai soldiers. Therefore, in the absence of verified facts, it is essential that all parties exercise restraint in public statements, the CMAA noted.

“Unsubstantiated accusations not only risk undermining the spirit of cooperation established under the ceasefire but also threaten to erode trust, at a moment when constructive engagement is most needed.”

“Cambodia hopes that the Thai side will respect the points agreed upon at the extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee (GBC), especially point two, which states that both sides maintain current troop deployments without further movement, including patrolling towards the other side’s position,” it said.

The CMAA also expressed its readiness to work with Thailand, ASEAN partners and the international mine action community to uphold peace and promote safety.

“Cambodia reaffirms absolute compliance with the Mine Ban Treaty, commitment to peace, dialogue and technical cooperation, and rejection of any action or narrative that undermines the ceasefire,” it said