(Bangkok, 10th) — Three more Thai soldiers were injured after stepping on landmines while patrolling the Thai-Cambodian border. The incident occurred just days after both countries reached an understanding on ceasefire conditions and implementation mechanisms, leading to renewed tension in the previously somewhat eased relationship.
The Thai Army’s Second Regional Command announced on social media on Saturday (August 9) that three soldiers were injured by landmines that morning in the border area between Sisaket Province in northeastern Thailand and Preah Vihear Province in northern Cambodia. One soldier’s left foot was blown off below the ankle, another suffered injuries to the arm and back, and the third sustained eardrum damage from the blast impact. All three were sent to a local hospital for treatment.
This is the third incident in the past three weeks in which Thai soldiers have stepped on landmines in the border area, with the previous two incidents resulting in a total of five injured soldiers. Cambodia has yet to respond to this incident.
According to the Thai newspaper The Nation, the Thai government issued a statement the same day condemning Cambodia for laying landmines in the border region, claiming this violates the Ottawa Convention, the United Nations Charter, and other international laws and humanitarian principles. Thailand plans to file an official protest and take further actions under the convention.
The statement said that Cambodia’s actions pose a major obstacle to implementing the bilateral ceasefire agreement, and once again urged Phnom Penh to immediately stop all activities violating the Ottawa Convention and to cooperate on mine clearance along the border, as agreed upon by the leaders of both nations.
Both Thailand and Cambodia are signatories to the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
Acting Thai Prime Minister Prawit visited the border area in Surin Province in eastern Thailand on Saturday and said that authorities have collected details about the landmine incidents and submitted a report to the Foreign Ministry to take action under the Ottawa Convention.
He also said the military has cleared more than 400 landmines in demining operations in Surin Province.
Thailand plans to discuss cooperation on mine clearance at the next Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee meeting. According to Thai media, this is one of the demands raised by Thailand but rejected by Cambodia.
Following border clashes between the two countries, Thailand has repeatedly accused Cambodia of laying new landmines in the border region, claiming the number could exceed 100. The Cambodian government denies this and says the Thai soldiers patrolled into Cambodian sovereign territory without authorization, unfortunately stepping on landmines left from previous wars.
Although both countries reached consensus on ceasefire details and signed an agreement at a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 7, some differences remain.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris told reporters on Saturday, before accompanying Prawit to Surin Province, that Thailand is collecting evidence in hopes of prosecuting Cambodian officials who gave orders instigating the Thai-Cambodian military conflict in domestic and international courts.
He said that although Thailand already has strong evidence, international courts require comprehensive records to accept war crimes cases, so Thailand will try to collect as much material as possible.
The Thai Army’s Second Regional Command announced on social media on Saturday (August 9) that three soldiers were injured by landmines that morning in the border area between Sisaket Province in northeastern Thailand and Preah Vihear Province in northern Cambodia. One soldier’s left foot was blown off below the ankle, another suffered injuries to the arm and back, and the third sustained eardrum damage from the blast impact. All three were sent to a local hospital for treatment.
This is the third incident in the past three weeks in which Thai soldiers have stepped on landmines in the border area, with the previous two incidents resulting in a total of five injured soldiers. Cambodia has yet to respond to this incident.
According to the Thai newspaper The Nation, the Thai government issued a statement the same day condemning Cambodia for laying landmines in the border region, claiming this violates the Ottawa Convention, the United Nations Charter, and other international laws and humanitarian principles. Thailand plans to file an official protest and take further actions under the convention.
The statement said that Cambodia’s actions pose a major obstacle to implementing the bilateral ceasefire agreement, and once again urged Phnom Penh to immediately stop all activities violating the Ottawa Convention and to cooperate on mine clearance along the border, as agreed upon by the leaders of both nations.
Both Thailand and Cambodia are signatories to the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
Acting Thai Prime Minister Prawit visited the border area in Surin Province in eastern Thailand on Saturday and said that authorities have collected details about the landmine incidents and submitted a report to the Foreign Ministry to take action under the Ottawa Convention.
He also said the military has cleared more than 400 landmines in demining operations in Surin Province.
Thailand plans to discuss cooperation on mine clearance at the next Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee meeting. According to Thai media, this is one of the demands raised by Thailand but rejected by Cambodia.
Following border clashes between the two countries, Thailand has repeatedly accused Cambodia of laying new landmines in the border region, claiming the number could exceed 100. The Cambodian government denies this and says the Thai soldiers patrolled into Cambodian sovereign territory without authorization, unfortunately stepping on landmines left from previous wars.
Although both countries reached consensus on ceasefire details and signed an agreement at a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 7, some differences remain.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris told reporters on Saturday, before accompanying Prawit to Surin Province, that Thailand is collecting evidence in hopes of prosecuting Cambodian officials who gave orders instigating the Thai-Cambodian military conflict in domestic and international courts.
He said that although Thailand already has strong evidence, international courts require comprehensive records to accept war crimes cases, so Thailand will try to collect as much material as possible.