(Bangkok, 14th) — Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Ratt announced on August 13 that regarding the landmine incident that occurred near Ta Muen Thom temple on the 12th, in which 7 border patrol soldiers were on duty and one stepped on an anti-personnel mine resulting in severe injury to his left ankle, the Thai side has already lodged a protest with Cambodia and is expediting the handling of the matter through diplomatic channels.
Ratt revealed that on Friday this week (August 15), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite diplomatic representatives from over 50 countries stationed in Thailand, including donor nations to the Ottawa Convention and relevant agencies, to attend a briefing; the next day (August 16), the Minister of Foreign Affairs will lead the diplomatic corps and related organizations to Sisaket Province for an on-site inspection.
He pointed out that since the first incident of a Thai soldier stepping on a landmine, the Foreign Minister has continued to take diplomatic actions with state parties of the Ottawa Convention, and at the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meetings, Thailand has suggested landmine clearance, but the Cambodian side has rejected the proposal.
Ratt emphasized that the frequent landmine incidents demonstrate Cambodia's lack of sincerity in resolving the issue. Cambodia's rejection of the Thai proposal has seriously violated international law, the United Nations Charter, the Ottawa Convention, and international humanitarian law, and poses a threat to the lives of Thai soldiers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make every effort to resolve the issue through diplomatic means.