Senior mine action officials have dismissed the way Thailand tried to use new landmines to support its unfounded accusations against Cambodia, dismissing the whole performance as no more than theatre, and even warning that it may in fact have suggested a breach of the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines.
Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), addressed Thai allegations that Cambodia employed new land mines during the recent border clash as he answered journalists’ questions during an August 18 press conference.
He noted that based on his observations, most of the mines displayed by Thailand had not had their arming switches removed to render them active.
“If these mines were taken from a minefield, as Thailand claims, they would have already had their arming switches removed. They cannot be reattached,” he said.
“The fuse cannot be reattached because once it’s removed, it’s broken. If the switch is still intact, the mine will not explode when it is stepped on. If the military plants mines, they plant them to explode. What’s the point of planting mines that won’t explode? This is a simple question,” he added.
He explained that the model of mine in question, the PMN-2, was produced in the 1970s. While this type of mine was imported to Cambodia in the 1980s, when peace was achieved in the 1990s, Cambodia began destroying them. It long ago announced to international community that its stockpile of these mines had been cleared, and this had been verified by international observers.
Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first vice-president of The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), also addressed the press conference.
He noted that if Thailand indeed possesses new mines like those that were displayed, it has violated the Ottawa Convention, which clearly stipulates that state parties must destroy all mines within their countries.
“The Thais have often used mines to stage a performance, displaying just a few at a time or many, depending on their purpose. If they can present 30 or 40 new mines, it is clear that they have completely violated the Ottawa Convention,” he said.
