The current president of the state parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) has committed to preserving the norms and principles of the convention and contributing to the reduction of the humanitarian consequences caused by the use of cluster munitions.
Carlos Sorreta, president of the 13th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, published an August 4 letter to Cambodia, in which he addressed the Thai use of cluster munitions during the recent border conflict.
He acknowledged a July 28 notice from the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), and appreciated its assurance of Cambodia’s consistent support to the humanitarian principles enshrined in the CCM, as well as Cambodia’s efforts to clear its territory of these weapons.
“The armed tensions within Cambodia and Thailand’s border areas are deeply concerning, and ensuring the protection of civilian populations should be of the utmost priority,” he noted.
He expressed hope that through dialogue and mutual understanding, the parties involved could find a way forward that respects human dignity and international humanitarian principles, leading to lasting peace and security for the nations and the region.
On July 28, senior minister Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the CMAA, informed the CCM about acts of aggression by Thai armed forces, including the illegal use of cluster munitions on Cambodian territory.
In his report, Thuch noted that Cambodia has long endured the devastating legacy of cluster munitions.
“Millions of submunitions were dropped on our territory during past conflicts, and their deadly remnants continue to maim and kill innocent civilians to this day,” he said.
“The renewed use of such weapons on Cambodian soil is unconscionable and must be met with firm international condemnation,” he added.
While Cambodia is not a state party to the CCM, it has consistently supported its humanitarian principles.
The CMAA called upon the CCM, its state parties and all relevant international actors to take urgent notice of Thailand’s unlawful actions and to uphold international norms against the use of cluster munitions.
The authority also welcomed the deployment of impartial observers to document and assess the full impact of the Thai military’s actions.
