Cambodia demining authorities have described the impact of Thai cluster munitions on the Kingdom’s civilian population, ahead of the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The meeting will take place in Vientiane, Laos, next year. It will be chaired by Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos.
In a December 15 letter to Thongsavanh, Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first-vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said that there are serious humanitarian and legal concerns arising from the recent military actions of Thailand against Cambodia, during which cluster munitions were employed in civilian areas.
They were fired during the incursions of July 24-28 and again during the current attacks, which began on December 7. Their use has resulted in civilian casualties, mass displacement, and widespread fear and suffering. After the July conflict, a young Cambodian child was killed by a bomblet from a cluster munition deployed by Thai forces.
“Cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate, and their use in populated areas poses long-term risks to civilian lives and livelihoods, as unexploded submunitions remain lethal for months and even years. The humanitarian consequences of such attacks are severe, especially for children, farmers and other vulnerable populations,” he said in the letter.
Citing reports from Cambodia’s 4th Military Region, Thuch said that the latest cluster bomb incident took place on December 13, at 5.45am, when the Thai military deployed cluster munitions in the vicinity of Preah Vihear Temple.
The second incident happened on December 14 at 3.10am, in the same area.
“While Thailand is not a state party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), the use of these weapons in civilian areas constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law. Their indiscriminate nature, potential for long-lasting harm and disproportionate effect on civilian populations make their use unacceptable under any circumstances,” Thuch said.
He called on Thongsavanh and the wider convention family to condemn the use of cluster munitions in civilian areas, highlight the catastrophic humanitarian consequences and advocate for the strict adherence to international humanitarian law by all actors.
Thuch noted that such support is essential to preserve the integrity and purpose of the Convention and to ensure that the global norm against cluster munitions is reinforced.
“Cambodia remains committed to peaceful resolution, civilian protection and the humanitarian principles that underpin the CCM. We respectfully urge the CCM community to engage in raising awareness of this grave situation, condemn these acts of aggression and support measures to prevent further use of cluster munitions against civilian populations,” he said.
