Cambodia strongly refuted claims by Thailand that it recently laid anti-personnel landmines, instead asserting that the recent injuries to Thai soldiers were a direct result of their unauthorised entry into Cambodian territory, a clear violation of existing bilateral agreements, which resulted in the soldiers being injured by a war-era mine.
In a sharply worded July 21 statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia “firmly rejected”” Thailand’s accusations, which followed an incident on July 16 where three Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleged on July 20 that Cambodia was in breach of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines (the Ottawa Convention) by laying new mines.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia categorically denies these baseless and unfounded allegations,” said the statement.
“As a state party fully committed to the spirit and letter of the Ottawa Convention, Cambodia strongly refutes any suggestion that it has violated its obligations under the Convention,” it added.
It noted that Cambodia’s consistent efforts and achievements in mine actions have been widely recognised by the international community, including for its significant progress in clearing explosive remnants of war (ERW) on its own territory and for its contributions to UN demining operations in other post-conflict states.
The ministry reiterated that the incident occurred in Techo Morakot Village, Choam Ksan District, Preah Vihear Province, an area unequivocally within Cambodia’s internationally recognised territory.
This territory, the statement underlined, is defined by authoritative 1:200,000-scale maps produced by the Franco-Siamese Mixed Commission, pursuant to the 1904 Convention and the 1907 Treaty.
These maps, it stressed, have long served as the basis for boundary demarcation between the two nations and were referenced by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its 1962 judgment and 2013 interpretation concerning the Preah Vihear Temple.
“It is deeply regrettable that Thai military personnel entered this area in violation of the 2000 memorandum of understanding,” the statement read, referring to an agreement that stipulates joint boundary demarcation and prohibits unilateral activities in undemarcated areas.
Cambodia alleged that despite prior warnings about unexploded landmines – remnants of decades of armed conflict – Thai troops “deviated from the patrol routes previously coordinated between the two countries and created a new path through Cambodian territory”.
Phnom Penh condemned this as an “irresponsible action” that violated bilateral understandings, infringed upon Cambodia’s sovereignty, endangered lives and eroded mutual trust.
The statement also pointed to “illegitimate and illegal” intentions attributed to the Thai military, claiming they aimed to impose rules for tourist and pilgrim entry into Ta Mone Thom temple, thereby asserting Thai sovereignty over the area.
“Despite clear and undeniable facts, Thailand continues to issue reckless and misleading statements, falsely claiming it has cleared landmines in the area where Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine explosion,” said the ministry.
“In reality, Cambodian troops remain stationed in the area, and no demining activity, as claimed by Thailand, has taken place, as the area lies within Cambodian territory,” it continued.
Rather than acknowledging the truth and accepting responsibility, Thailand persists in disseminating false information to both the public and the international community.
The ministry noted that Cambodia urges Thailand to immediately cease such actions and take appropriate steps to rectify its misrepresentations.
“The above incidents clearly illustrate the necessity for both countries to urgently pursue a peaceful, legally binding resolution through the appropriate international mechanisms,” it said.
Cambodia, therefore, reiterates its long-standing position that the ICJ – the principal judicial organ of the UN – is the most credible and impartial forum for resolving the remaining boundary disputes between the two countries, and pressed Thailand to accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction in good faith for a just, fair and peaceful resolution to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.
