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Nikkei Asia
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Thai-Cambodia clashes live: Thai death toll rises to 'more than 20'
BANGKOK -- Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated significantly with their armies continuing to exchange fire on Friday, leaving "more than 20 deaths" in Thailand, according to the acting Thai prime minister, and one civilian dead in Cambodia. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has appealed to the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the issue as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current ASEAN chair, tries to broker a cessation of hostilities. Here are two recent Nikkei Asia opinion articles on the crisis: - Cambodia seeks justice, not conflict, in border dispute with Thailand - Hun Sen's gamble: Why Cambodia ex-ruler turned on Thai ally Thaksin Follow the latest developments in this live blog. (Thailand and Cambodia time) 11:25 a.m. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters that he had received reports of "more than 20 deaths" and several people severely injured. 11:20 a.m. The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) released a statement Friday saying that ground reports from local authorities and demining teams showed that Thailand had used cluster munitions in populated areas around Phnom Khmuoch, near the border. "The use of cluster munitions -- especially in or near civilian areas -- is an unacceptable escalation. It shows complete disregard for human life, humanitarian principles and regional peace," said Ly Thuch, vice president of the CMAA. Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata reiterated the accusation at a press conference and claimed it demonstrated Thailand's willingness to break international law. Thailand and Cambodia are not parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, use and stockpiling of cluster munitions. 10:15 a.m. Indonesia's foreign ministry said that the country was closely following the development. "We are confident that the two neighboring countries will immediately return to peaceful means to settle their differences in line with the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation," it said in a social media post. 10 a.m. Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Chhum Socheat said on Friday that firing continued overnight but the intensity of shelling was less than the previous day. He also claimed that the Thai military was using surveillance drones in Preah Vihear province. "At around 2 a.m., shots were fired from both sides along the border," Socheat said. "There has been an exchange of fire from last night until this morning. Our soldiers are in control and protecting all areas, but the Thais are still trying to fly drones to shoot at our areas." Chhum Socheat did not comment on whether there were any casualties among civilians and military personnel. However, Met Measpheakdey, deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey province -- where firing was reported on Thursday -- said one civilian was killed and five others injured. Thailand's Second Army Area, which is leading the fighting along the Thai border, also said clashes continued on Friday. July 25, 7:50 a.m. The deputy spokesperson of Thailand's Ministry of Health, Varoth Chotpitayasunondh, has posted updated Thai casualty figures on his Facebook account. He said 13 civilians and one soldier were killed and 32 civilians and 14 soldiers injured. July 24, 9:31 p.m. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim posted on social media that he spoke with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, this evening. "In our conversations, in Malaysia's capacity as ASEAN Chair for 2025, I appealed directly to both leaders for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further hostilities and to create space for peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution," Anwar said. "I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward." 7 p.m. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed "deep concern" over military clashes between Cambodia and Thailand. Following such a conflict in May, "Japan has been working to encourage both countries to de-escalate the situation," he said in a statement. "Japan urges both Cambodia and Thailand to exercise maximum restraint and strongly hopes that the tension between the two countries will be eased peacefully through dialogue," he said. 6:30 p.m. Thailand's benchmark SET stock index closed 0.58% lower on Thursday. 6:30 p.m. Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona said in a news conference that Thursday's events will be added to the government's complaint to the International Court of Justice. "The clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border will become an additional reason for Cambodia to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice," said Pen Bona. 6 p.m. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai spoke to reporters after National Security Council and Cabinet meetings. "We condemn this act of violence, which does not comply with international law that has to be strictly adhered to," he said. "We are not declaring war. ... We must try to talk to resolve the issue," he added, "but what happened was that Cambodia kept provoking us." Asked whether the two countries will talk at the government level, Phumtham said: "We must wait for this to stop first, as we weren't the ones to initiate it. If there's sincerity towards each other, then we can talk." 5:30 p.m. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, spokeswoman for the Cambodian Defense Ministry, said in a press conference that Thailand had attacked eight locations in the Cambodian provinces of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear. She did not say whether there had been any casualties on the Cambodian side of the border. 4:30 p.m. Thailand's Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsuthin said 11 civilians and one soldier had died due to the clashes and 24 injured across the country, based on information available as of 2:15 p.m. "The loss of lives today is unacceptable," he said. 4:20 p.m. Loeung Sophon, a representative for the Cambodian labor NGO Central based in Thailand, told Nikkei Asia that Cambodian migrant workers are even more destabilized by the exit of Cambodian embassy staff on Thursday morning. So far, he estimates that some 50,000 migrant workers have returned to Cambodia since June, ranging from those in construction to vendors and laborers on rubber farms. "Those who are still in Thailand really want to go back," he said. 4 p.m. The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement on the crisis: "We are hopeful our two fellow ASEAN member states will resolve this issue in accordance with international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes," it said. "We urge both parties to extend due consideration and care to innocent civilians who may be affected by the ongoing conflict." 3.50 p.m. Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst with Janes - a defense intelligence group, told Nikkei Asia: "It's not very useful to compare total numbers [of both countries' militaries] -- it's not like they're going to be lining up one-on-one along the border to see who has got more guys. This is about equipment, so whether the Thais have 370,000 or 372,000 men under arms is largely irrelevant. "Assuming this escalates -- which is not a given -- this is about equipment more than numbers. "Both belligerents have enough numbers on the ground in the area to make life very uncomfortable for the other side. The question is what can they bring to the fight in terms of hardware, and we've already seen what the Thais can bring -- F-16 jets, which the Cambodians are in no position to counter." 3:40 p.m. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that the situation is "concerning." He said he expected to speak to the leaders from Thailand and Cambodia later today. "They are important members of ASEAN. They are very close to Malaysia," Anwar said. "The least you can expect is for them to just stand down and enter into negotiations." He went on to explain that he had the two countries' interests at heart and stressed that both wanted to have a "peaceful and amicable resolution" to the conflict. "Both want to keep ASEAN engaged. And we do precisely that," the prime minister said. "I still think peace is the only option available." 3:29 p.m. Thai Army said in a statement that it "continues to adhere to the principle of limited defensive operations, primarily targeting military objectives." The Thai Army said Cambodia's military action "clearly breaks the Geneva Conventions by using heavy weapons against civilian areas." 3:25 p.m. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand's suspended prime minister, told reporters: "Since the beginning, of course, we didn't want violence. But once it occurred, the military is well-prepared." Regarding the dispute over who struck first, "As usual, they would say we fired first, but we live in a world where there are many tools that can show [the truth] to the world ... Cambodia is only losing its credibility more and more." 3:20 p.m. Former Malaysian senior diplomat Ilango Karuppannan said the Thai-Cambodian conflict "reflects long-standing historical grievances," especially regarding the unresolved border demarcation around the Preah Vihear area. That this is happening under Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship is "a real test of Malaysia's leadership and ASEAN's relevance." "If ASEAN is seen as unable to manage tensions between its own members, it could seriously undermine its credibility and raise doubts about its role in regional peace and stability," he said. Malaysia should consider convening an emergency meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers to urge restraint and encourage both sides to reactivate bilateral mechanisms like the Joint Border Commission, Karuppannan added. He advised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally to reach out to leaders of both countries to encourage de-escalation. "Alternatively, he may choose to appoint a trusted envoy to carry this out discreetly." 3 p.m. China says it is deeply concerned about the latest developments and hopes both sides will resolve the conflict through dialogue and consultation. "Thailand and Cambodia are both China's friendly neighbors and important members of ASEAN," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiajun tells reporters, adding that China is willing to play a role in de-escalating the situation. 2:50 p.m. On its Facebook page the Royal Thai Army has invited Thais to post on social media, adding the hashtags #CambodiaShootsFirst #ThailandLovesPeaceButWhenItComesToWar,WeAreNotCowardly and #CambodiaOpenedFire 2:45 p.m. Some Cambodian residents in Oddar Meanchey province -- the Cambodian side of the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple area -- started evacuating, according to local news outlet Kiripost. In neighboring Banteay Meanchey province, the site of bordertown and casino hub Poipet city, some residents say they packed bags to be ready if they need to flee. 2:40 p.m. Cambodia's Defense Ministry laid out a different scenario from its Thai counterparts, claiming that Thai military activity started first. Ministry spokeswoman Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said in a statement that Thailand started the latest clash by ascending a path to Ta Moan Thom Temple and placed barbed wire around the base at 6:30 a.m. She said Thai forces flew a drone for about two minutes at 7:04 a.m. "Then, at 8:30 AM, they opened fire, and by 8:46 AM, Thai invading forces had initiated an armed assault on Cambodian troops stationed at Ta Moan Thom Temple." Cambodian troops returned fire at 8:47 a.m., the statement says, describing the move as the country's right to defend itself. Fighting expanded later in the morning to the Ta Krabey Temple near Ta Moan Thom, the Phnom Khmao area in a separate area, and then a Thai F16 fighter jet dropped two bombs on a road leading to Wat Kaew Seekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda. The statement asks the international community to condemn the incident as an aggression by Thai forces, and asks residents not to share unverified information, images or videos. 2:30 p.m. Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap confirmed that the Thai Air Force's six F-16 fighter jets have successfully completed an operation to support the army on the ground and returned to base. The army's regional command posted on Facebook that the Air Force has attacked two brigade headquarters of Cambodia around 11 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra posted on X: "Today, Hun Sen ordered the shooting into Thai territory early in the morning, firing first after laying bomb traps along the border, which is considered a violation of international law and the ethics of living together as good neighbors. "Thailand has exercised patience and restraint, fully adhering to international law and fulfilling its duties as a good neighbor," he added. "From now on, Thai soldiers can respond according to strategic plans, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can rightfully implement various measures." 2:15 p.m. The Royal Thai Army has just announced that nine Thai civilians have been killed as a result of the clashes. Six of the fatalities were in Sisaket province, two in Surin province and one in Ubon Ratchathani province. The deadliest incident was in Sisaket province when a gas station exploded, causing six deaths and 10 injuries. A further 14 civilians have been injured, the army says in a statement. 2:00 p.m. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet says that he wrote a letter to the United Nation's Security Council president, seeking an urgent meeting over the clash "to stop Thailand's aggression." In the letter to Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan and Security Council president for July, Hun Manet directs frustration toward Thailand, citing the clash this morning, as well as Thailand's attempts to characterize landmine explosions as new acts of aggressions by Cambodia. "This military escalation takes place in spite of regional and international appeals for restraint and peaceful solutions and Cambodia's demonstrated commitment to dialogue," he wrote, noting that Cambodia had sent the case to the International Court of Justice since June 6 and then hosted a bilateral dialogue in Phnom Penh on June 14 and 15. Meanwhile, Cambodia's Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns the attack, which it calls an "unprovoked premeditated and deliberate attacks on Cambodian positions along the border areas." The ministry characterized the clash as a "reckless and hostile act by Thailand," the ministry says. 1:50 p.m. Here's a brief background on why the Thai-Cambodia border is contested. The two neighbors have a long history of border disputes, which center on a disagreement over the Preah Vihear temple, to which Thailand lays claim, and the surrounding area. The issue routinely stirs up nationalistic sentiments in both countries. The controversy stems from a 1907 border treaty between France and Siam -- present-day Thailand -- that placed the Preah Vihear temple in Cambodian territory. The French used a watershed between the two countries to draw the border. However, Thailand contested French maps in the 1930s and occupied the temple complex in 1954. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple complex belonged to Cambodia but did not rule on other contested land. From 2008 to 2011, the two countries routinely engaged in cross-border firings near the Preah Vihear temple complex, resulting in large military deployments from both sides in 2011. The issue once again reached the ICJ, which reaffirmed its 1962 ruling in 2013. In addition, back in 2003, a popular Thai actress said in a Thai TV interview that she hated Cambodia for stealing her Angkor Wat, according to the Cambodia Daily newspaper. Some Cambodians were angered by this, and rioters set fire to the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh. For more information, read our previous explainer, published last month. 1:45 p.m. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet had a lengthy military career. He joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995 and four years later became the first Cambodian to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He rose steadily through the ranks, becoming a major general in 2011 and deputy commander in chief of the RCAF in 2019. His postings included leading the counterterrorism team and deputy chief of the prime minister's bodyguard unit. He was promoted to the highest rank, four-star general, in 2023, shortly before he replaced his father Hun Sen as prime minister. 1:15 p.m. Thailand's foreign ministry issues a statement, urging Cambodia to "cease its repeated acts which constitute a severe violation of international law." Thailand "is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand's sovereignty in accordance with international law and principles," the ministry says. 12:30 p.m. Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson of Thailand's ad hoc center for the border situation, tells reporters in a press briefing that there have been three serious injuries, including a five-year-old boy, and one death has been reported in the Phanom Dong Rak border community in Surin province. The ad hoc center has elevated the security measures from Level 2 to Level 4, which involves the complete closure of all border checkpoints along the Thai Cambodian border, Surasant says. "The Cambodian side has deployed heavy weapons such as BM-21 multiple rocket launchers and 122 millimeter artillery, causing damage to Thai civilian homes and public facilities along the border," he says. 12:30 p.m. Cambodia's defense ministry said in a statement that it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression" of Thailand, Reuters reports. 11:55 a.m. Tataya Sattapanon, deputy mayor of the border district of Tambon Ta Muen in Thailand, tells Nikkei on the phone that she is currently in a bunker near her home, together with her neighbors. "I cannot go to the prepared evacuation center because artillery fire from Cambodia is still coming," she says. She says she learned from social media that one hit near the Phnom Dongrak Hospital and another hit a 7-Eleven store. "We are still hearing sounds of artillery explosions." 11:30 a.m. Thailand's deputy defense minister, Gen. Nattapol Nakphanit, pledges that the Thai army will protect Thailand's sovereignty. "Thai people throughout the country, please be assured that the Thai army will protect our sovereignty and will not allow anyone to encroach on our territory," he says at Government House. "We will not endure anymore because this is the action of the Cambodian military that we cannot accept. We ask the people to give encouragement to the personnel who are on duty along the border, especially in the area of the 2nd Army."
The Star
24-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Giant rats sniff out land mines in Cambodia
Mott Sreymom, 34, a rat handler with Apopo carries an African giant pouched rat back from a landmine field. — Photos: ANTON L. DELGADO/AP Rats may send some squealing, but in Cambodia, teams of the not-so-little critters have become indispensable in helping specialists detect land mines that have killed and maimed thousands in the South-East Asian country. The African giant pouched rats, which can grow up to 45 centimetres and weigh up to 1.5 kilograms, are on the front line, making their way nimbly across fields to signal to their handlers when they get a whiff of TNT, used in most land mines and explosive ordnance. "While working with these rats, I have always found mines and they have never skipped a single one,' said Mott Sreymom, a rat handler at Apopo, a humanitarian demining group that trains and deploys rodent detection teams across the world. A mine detection rat with the humanitarian demining organisation Apopo works in a landmine field in Siem Reap, Cambodia. "I really trust these mine detection rats," Mott said while on her lunch break after working on a land mine field in the province of Siem Reap. After three decades of conflict in the previous century, remnants of war littered approximately 4,500sq km of Cambodian land, according to a survey by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) in 2004. This affected all 25 Cambodian provinces and nearly half of the country's 14,000 villages. As of 2018, CMAA reported 1,970sq km remain uncleared. Rat detection teams march in line towards a landmine field. The rats have a keen sense of smell, making them a favorite at Apopo, which also employs land mine-detecting dog teams. "Dogs and rats are better compared to other animals because they are trainable,' said Alberto Zacarias, a field supervisor of Apopo's technical survey dog teams, adding that they are also friendly and easily learn commands. Rat detection teams deployed to a landmine field. Since demining officially began in Cambodia in 1992, more than 1.1 million mines have been cleared, as well as approximately 2.9 million other explosive remnants of war, according to a 2022 government demining progress report. And the African giant pouched rats are doing their part. "We work with them almost daily, so we get closer,' Mott said. "They are very friendly and they don't move around and get scared. They are like family.' – AP
Bangkok Post
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Landmines inside Thai territory newly laid, probe finds
Thailand is now pursuing retaliatory measures against Cambodia after a probe showed the landmines responsible for Wednesday's mine explosion in the Chok Bok border area in Ubon Ratchathani were newly planted, army commander Gen Pana Klaewplodthuk said on Saturday. On Wednesday, a group of soldiers was patrolling in the area when one stepped on a mine, causing an explosion that injured three of them. Gen Pana was speaking after the Second Army Region confirmed Cambodian forces had planted new landmines, possibly more than 100, inside Thai territory. Two formal actions are now underway, said Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region. A report will be submitted to the Army Operations Centre, and the army will recommend the government instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to file a UN complaint under the 1997 Ottawa Convention, citing Cambodia's violation of the anti-mines convention, he said. Eight recently deployed mines were found in two clusters: three on the surface in one spot, concealed with leaves and spaced about 40cm apart; and five more in another location, spaced 90cm apart, he said. All eight devices were newly manufactured, he said, based on clear markings and lack of plant overgrowth. The discovery was made about 100m to 150m inside Thai territory, prompting immediate mine-clearing actions by the Thai engineer battalion, said Lt Gen Boonsin, warning that more mines, potentially numbering in the hundreds, remain buried in the area. While diplomatic complaints are being prepared, Lt Gen Boonsin said the Second Army Region can respond militarily without awaiting government orders. He dismissed Cambodian allegations suggesting Thai forces planted the mines. "Nobody would rig mines near their own troops," he said. "That area is clearly Thai territory, and the Cambodian leader himself acknowledged the landmines were planted inside Thailand," he said. "It is evident the explosives were laid during the period when we had temporarily withdrawn our patrol forces. We reserve the right to respond decisively and appropriately within the bounds of our sovereignty," he added. Cambodia must bear responsibility, he said, adding Thai troops will continue clearing the border area and reinforcing road access. "Thailand and Cambodia are both signatories to the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines. This is a new and serious development that we must closely monitor, and we must also take greater precautions to protect our troops," he said. "We will act firmly to protect our sovereign territory and personnel dignity," he said. Meanwhile, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) denied claims in Thai media reports alleging Cambodian forces were responsible for planting the landmines. The CMAA expressed deep regret over the incident bur rejected what it described as "baseless" accusations.
Bangkok Post
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Landmines newly laid, probe finds
Thailand is now pursuing retaliatory measures against Cambodia after a probe showed the landmines responsible for Wednesday's mine explosion in the Chok Bok border area in Ubon Ratchathani were newly planted, army commander Gen Pana Klaewplodthuk said on Saturday. On Wednesday, a group of soldiers was patrolling in the area when one stepped on a mine, causing an explosion that injured three of them. Gen Pana was speaking after the Second Army Region confirmed Cambodian forces had planted new landmines, possibly more than 100, inside Thai territory. Two formal actions are now underway, said Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region. A report will be submitted to the Army Operations Centre, and the army will recommend the government instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to file a UN complaint under the 1997 Ottawa Convention, citing Cambodia's violation of the anti-mines convention, he said. Eight recently deployed mines were found in two clusters: three on the surface in one spot, concealed with leaves and spaced about 40cm apart; and five more in another location, spaced 90cm apart, he said. All eight devices were newly manufactured, he said, based on clear markings and lack of plant overgrowth. The discovery was made about 100m to 150m inside Thai territory, prompting immediate mine-clearing actions by the Thai engineer battalion, said Lt Gen Boonsin, warning that more mines, potentially numbering in the hundreds, remain buried in the area. While diplomatic complaints are being prepared, Lt Gen Boonsin said the Second Army Region can respond militarily without awaiting government orders. He dismissed Cambodian allegations suggesting Thai forces planted the mines. "Nobody would rig mines near their own troops," he said. "That area is clearly Thai territory, and the Cambodian leader himself acknowledged the landmines were planted inside Thailand," he said. "It is evident the explosives were laid during the period when we had temporarily withdrawn our patrol forces. We reserve the right to respond decisively and appropriately within the bounds of our sovereignty," he added. Cambodia must bear responsibility, he said, adding Thai troops will continue clearing the border area and reinforcing road access. "Thailand and Cambodia are both signatories to the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines. This is a new and serious development that we must closely monitor, and we must also take greater precautions to protect our troops," he said. "We will act firmly to protect our sovereign territory and personnel dignity," he said. Meanwhile, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) denied claims in Thai media reports alleging Cambodian forces were responsible for planting the landmines. The CMAA expressed deep regret over the incident bur rejected what it described as "baseless" accusations.
Bangkok Post
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Cambodia denies involvement in landmine blast injuring Thai soldiers
The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has firmly denied claims made in Thai media reports alleging that Cambodian forces were responsible for planting landmines that injured three Thai soldiers earlier this week. In a statement released on Friday, the CMAA expressed deep regret over the incident and rejected what it described as 'baseless accusations' that Cambodia had laid new landmines in the Mom Bei area, where the explosion reportedly took place. Several Thai news outlets, including the Bangkok Post, the Nation and Khaosod English, quoted senior Thai officials as saying that three soldiers sustained injuries from landmines on Wednesday at coordinates WA 220 861, as confirmed by the Thai side. The reports alleged that the devices had recently been planted by Cambodian troops, said the CMAA as reported by Khmer Times on Saturday. The CMAA stressed that Cambodia had long suffered from the scourge of landmines and had taken a strong stance against their use. 'Cambodia is a country that has suffered tremendously from landmines and explosive remnants of war. As such, Cambodia strongly condemns and firmly opposes the use, production, and stockpiling of landmines,' the statement read. 'We deeply regret every landmine-related tragedy, regardless of where it occurs or who is affected.' The CMAA underscored Cambodia's longstanding commitment to peace and mine clearance, citing the leadership of former Prime Minister Hun Sen and his successor, Prime Minister Hun Manet. Cambodia is a State Party to the Ottawa Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. According to the CMAA, Cambodia has met its international obligations and is widely recognised for its achievements in mine clearance. The Kingdom hosted the 11th Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention and the 5th Review Conference—also known as the Siem Reap-Angkor Summit for a Mine-Free World—in 2024, both of which were considered landmark events. On the incident involving injured Thai soldiers, the CMAA called for any conclusions to be based on clear, verifiable investigations rather than 'speculation or unfounded accusations.' Cambodia remains fully committed to the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding cooperation along the border with Thailand, and to transforming the border into an area of peace, friendship, collaboration and development, according to the statement. The CMAA urged all parties to refrain from making premature or baseless accusations and instead work together to investigate the incident while upholding a spirit of friendship, safety and mutual respect, emphasising that 'the true enemy of all of us is landmines.' On Wednesday, Pvt Thanapat Huiwan stepped on a landmine while his group was patrolling from the Morakot Operations Base to Hill 481 in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Chong Bok forms the so-called Emerald Triangle that borders three countries: Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. It was a battlefield between Thai and Vietnamese troops in 1973 when the Vietnamese chased Khmer Rouge soldiers fleeing Cambodia to the Thai border. Thailand and Cambodia held a short exchange of gunfire in the area on May 28 as a simmering border dispute between the two countries boiled over, with tensions remaining high to this day.
