The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has rejected allegations made by the Thai media and military which accused Cambodia of planting new anti-personnel mines along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
In a November 25 statement, the CMAA said the allegations were publicised without any official, jointly verified investigation report, and without consultation through agreed bilateral mechanisms.
“Cambodia firmly rejects any suggestion that its armed forces have laid new mines. Cambodia remains fully committed to its obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on 26 October 2025 and all bilateral mechanisms with Thailand,” it said.
The Royal Thai Army issued a November 24 press statement, claiming that the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) based in Thailand had confirmed that a mine which exploded on November 10, injuring Thai soldiers in the Phnom Trop area, were “newly buried PMN-2 type mines”.
The Thai army also said claimed that they found mobile phones that contain photos and video of Cambodian mine-laying activities, as well as instructions.
The CMAA noted that any assertion of a mine being newly emplaced must be supported by a formal technical report that includes verified photographs, proper chain-of-custody documentation, forensic soil-disturbance analysis, timestamped GIS data and an assessment by a neutral third-party mine action organisation.
“No such report has been shared with Cambodia through any official channel. Likewise, claims involving an alleged ‘Cambodian soldier’s phone’ raise serious concerns regarding authenticity and chain of custody, as no information has been submitted through the General Border Committee (GBC) or Joint Coordinating Task Force (JCTF). Nor has any request been made for Cambodia to verify digital materials, which are susceptible to alteration without proper forensic handling,” said the CMAA.
“Cambodia will only engage on evidence that is independently authenticated in a joint technical process,
it reiterated.
The CMAA said Cambodia values and appreciates ASEAN’s important role in facilitating dialogue and maintaining regional stability, but so far, no official report has been issued within the ASEAN framework.
Cambodia reiterated that it has not laid any new mines and remains steadfast in upholding its mine-free commitments. It fully supports a professional, scientific and impartial approach to all reported incidents.
The CMAA said Cambodia calls for an immediate, jointly led investigation with the participation of neutral international experts to ensure an accurate and evidence-based assessment.
“The CMAA regrets that repeated Thai allegations are being released to national media before being shared through bilateral mechanisms. Such unilateral public communication undermines trust, provokes public misunderstanding and complicates the work of our technical teams on the ground.
“Cambodia remains committed to peaceful cooperation, transparency and the safety of both Cambodian and Thai citizens,” said the statement.
