NationThailand-July 21
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned Cambodia for allegedly laying anti-personnel landmines along the shared border, calling it a serious violation of international law and an infringement of Thai sovereignty. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura issued the statement on Sunday, following a blast that injured three Thai soldiers near the Chong Bok border area in Ubon Ratchathani province on July 16.
Citing reports from security agencies, the spokesman said inspections had confirmed that the landmines used in the incident were newly planted and not part of Thailand’s arsenal or inventory. Evidence gathered from the blast site, along with environmental factors, led officials to conclude that the incident constituted a serious violation of international law.
“The Thai government condemns in the strongest terms the use of anti-personnel landmines. Such actions violate Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are in direct contravention of the fundamental principles of international law as stated in the United Nations Charter,” Nikorndej said. He added that Cambodia’s actions also clearly breach obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, to which both Thailand and Cambodia are state parties. Thailand, he affirmed, would address the matter through existing bilateral mechanisms and called on Cambodia to cooperate in mine clearance operations along the border, as previously agreed upon by the two prime ministers. He stressed that the issue involves multiple legal and diplomatic frameworks and must be handled with caution. In a separate statement, the Thailand Mines Action Centre (TMAC) expressed deep concern over the July 16 incident, confirming that unauthorized actors had planted anti-personnel mines in Thai territory near Chong Bok. The center condemned the act as a grave breach of the Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. TMAC stressed that both Thailand and Cambodia are parties to the treaty and have committed to ending the use and stockpiling of such weapons, as well as to clearing mines within their territories. Read more at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40052806
