Escalating conflicts over buried explosives persist
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Recent incidents along the Thai-Cambodian border have raised concerns about the use of anti-personnel landmines, with Cambodia being accused of contravening its core obligations under the Ottawa Convention.
At the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Anning, China, Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa delivered a video briefing on these incidents. He expressed grave concern over the landmine incidents, which have caused injury to Thai soldiers.
Thailand has called upon the international community to take necessary measures to ensure that Cambodia ceases its inhumane use of anti-personnel landmines and fully complies with its legal obligations under the convention and international humanitarian law.
The Thailand Mine Action Centre has cleared 1,300 old explosives, but none of them were the PMN-2 type recently found. Over the past two decades, Thailand has cleared and returned more than 99% of areas contaminated by anti-personnel landmines, equivalent to approximately 2,500 square kilometres.
The minister strongly condemned Cambodia's actions, asserting that they undermine the convention's integrity and the spirit of the Siem Reap-Angkor Declaration. He reaffirmed Thailand's full commitment to its legal obligations under the Ottawa Convention.
Clear and credible evidence confirms that these landmines had been newly laid by Cambodian forces. Thailand has formally raised this matter with the UN Secretary-General and requested an explanation from Cambodia under Article 8, paragraph 2 of the convention.
The concerns are not only of direct importance to Thailand, but also to the broader international community, particularly to donor countries that have supported Cambodia. The minister highlighted Thailand's continued efforts to assist landmine survivors, enabling them to live with dignity and reintegrate into society.
The session addressed member states of the Ottawa Convention, which has a total of 67 participants from 41 countries, one organization, and four international agencies.
The recent incidents are part of escalating border tensions rooted in a long-standing territorial dispute involving areas around disputed temples such as Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear. Both countries accuse the other of violations, but Thailand specifically accuses Cambodia of breaching sovereignty and international norms regarding landmine use.
On Aug 7, during the extraordinary session of the General Border Committee (GBC) held in Kuala Lumpur, both sides had reached an agreement on a ceasefire. However, within just five days following the meeting, two additional incidents occurred in which Thai soldiers stepped on landmines.
Cambodia denies and distorts landmine attacks against Thai forces, which have injured personnel in five incidents, including two after the ceasefire. Cambodia's repeated landmine incidents demonstrate deliberate violations of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In summary, Cambodian forces have been observed operating inside Thai territory and planting anti-personnel mines, prohibited under the Ottawa Convention. Thai soldiers patrolling the border have been injured by these mines in multiple incidents in 2025, including one severe injury. Both countries accuse the other of violations, but Thailand specifically accuses Cambodia of breaching sovereignty and international norms regarding landmine use. The ongoing clashes have led to diplomatic escalations such as ambassador recalls and border closures.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts along the Thai-Cambodian border, particularly the use of anti-personnel landmines, have become a major point of discussion in general-news and politics, as they jeopardize the peace in the region and violate international conventions.
- The crime-and-justice aspect of this conflict is further emphasized by Cambodia's denial and distortion of landmine attacks against Thai forces, making them accountable for injuries caused to Thai personnel in multiple incidents, and for their deliberate breach of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
