Thailand calls upon Cambodia to cease use of landmines
Cambodia's refusal to participate in joint landmine clearance operations along the Thai-Cambodian border has led to a contentious and slow progress in the demining process. The rejection is primarily due to ongoing tensions related to border demarcation, sovereignty issues, and broader political disputes.
Thailand has been urging Cambodia to cooperate in mine clearance, but Cambodia has shown reluctance to agree without conditions, such as the removal of border fences, which Cambodia views as an encroachment or politically sensitive. Discussions between bilateral commissions on these issues are scheduled, but remain without a clear timeline or resolution.
China has offered to mediate between Thailand and Cambodia for landmine clearance talks, indicating ongoing international efforts to resolve the deadlock. However, Cambodia’s agreement seems conditional and dependent on resolving other complex border issues such as fence removal.
The current status of landmine clearance efforts along the border remains challenging. Significant mine incidents continue to occur, with Thai soldiers injured by Cambodian-laid mines even after ceasefire agreements were reached. Thailand has publicly shown recovered and defused mines and appealed to international frameworks like the Ottawa Convention and bilateral mechanisms to address the mine problems.
Rear Adm Surasant Kongsiri, the spokesman for the government's Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation, is planning to use technology to protect Thai soldiers from landmines during patrols. The Thai government aims to restore safety along the border as soon as possible, and concern is growing about the number of landmines laid in border areas.
Hundreds of rockets and shells have been cleared in relation to the border situation. The Thai Prime Minister has agreed that self-defence is justified, and the Thai government has urged Cambodia to stop using landmines in border areas. The Armac director, a Cambodian, has been asked by the Thai government to support landmine clearance along the border.
Landmines threaten not only military and security personnel, but also civilians of both countries. Cambodia is strengthening its positions along the border, but the movement is within the accepted distance, in compliance with the countries' ceasefire agreement. The ongoing tensions and the threat of landmines highlight the need for a swift resolution to the border disputes and a commitment to joint landmine clearance operations.
References:
- The Diplomat
- The Bangkok Post
- The Nation
- Reuters
- CNN
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