Cambodia Warns Thailand Against Distorting Border Mine Incident
PHNOM PENH – The Ministry of National Defense has warned Thailand over repeated accusations concerning landmine explosions, stating that Cambodia is not only an unfair victim of Thai border violations but has also been wrongly accused of breaching international law.
Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, also said Cambodia fully rejected what it described as baseless accusations from Thailand regarding the injury of five Thai soldiers in another landmine explosion on July 23 in An Seh village, Choam Ksant commune, Choam Ksant district, Preah Vihear province.
She said that Cambodia has repeatedly warned the Thai side that many landmines left from past conflicts remain uncleared in the area.
The spokesperson continued that Cambodia has also urged Thailand to refrain from actions that contradict the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2000) regarding agreed-upon patrol routes, as Thai soldiers deviate from their designated routes and even create new routes that enter Cambodian sovereign territory.
In the same statement, Socheata expressed deep regret that Thailand has not only failed to take responsibility for its “aggressive actions” but has also accused Cambodia of violating international law—despite Cambodia being the unjust victim of Thai violations.
The Defense Ministry’s response followed Thailand’s claim that Cambodia had violated the landmine treaty by allegedly laying new mines along the border. The latest explosion reportedly caused another Thai soldier to lose a leg, marking the second such incident following a July 16 blast that injured three others.
Socheata reaffirmed that the Ministry of National Defense and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces remain committed to resolving such matters peacefully and in accordance with international law.
However, she emphasized that Cambodia stands fully prepared to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens against any encroachment or invasion—under any circumstances and at any cost.
On July 20, the Defense Ministry also issued a statement dismissing Thailand’s accusation that Cambodia breached the border agreement by planting new landmines. The ministry further demanded that the Thai military cease repeated border provocations.