On 5 December 2025, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a statement on the agenda item regarding consideration of requests submitted under Article 8 of the Ottawa Convention at the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in Geneva.

 

The Foreign Minister clarified the facts and Thailand’s position regarding the Thailand – Cambodia border situation, emphasizing that Thailand has consistently committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Ottawa Convention and engaged every bilateral mechanism in good faith to resolve this matter. Thailand has no desire to politicize the issue, but the fact that Thai soldiers have suffered and become permanently disabled as a result of Cambodia’s use of landmines – a blatant breach of Article 1 of the Convention – makes it so Thailand has no choice but to speak on behalf of the Thai people who have had to endure acts that should never occur, as well as to reserve its right to invoke Article 8, paragraph 2 of the Convention to request clarification from Cambodia. Cambodia’s responses, however, have contradicted verified evidence and been consistently accompanied by disinformation. The Foreign Minister posed the question: If a State Party can plant new mines and simply deny it without consequence, what will happen after the next casualty?

 

The Foreign Minister underscored that the fairest, most effective and transparent way forward is to request the UN Secretary-General’s good offices to facilitate the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission in a timely manner. As such, Thailand’s objective is to depoliticize this issue by relying on the Convention’s own mechanisms to protect its integrity and demonstrate that they work when they are needed most.

 

In addition, H.E. Ms. Usana Berananda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva, exercised the Right of Reply to rebut Cambodia’s baseless accusations that Thailand acted unilaterally, lacked credibility and politicized the losses suffered by the 7 Thai soldiers. In doing so, the Thai delegation presented concrete evidence demonstrating Cambodia’s violations of its obligations under the Convention to the meeting, including video footage showing Cambodian personnel training to plant PMN-2 landmines. All of these evidences have been submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General. The Ambassador and Permanent Representative also pointed that the establishment of a fact-finding mission, as proposed by Thailand, would help verify the facts and enhance transparency for all parties involved. If Cambodia is committed to resolving the issue in good faith, then it should accept this proposal.

 

Throughout the duration of the Meeting of the States Parties, the Thai delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva, and representatives from the Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC) and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, worked in unity and spoke in one voice. Representatives of each agency also delivered statements and exercised its right of reply under the relevant agenda item, in order to reaffirm its position and to defend Thailand’s interests to the fullest at this Meeting of the States Parties.

 

Statement in full: https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/fm-statement-article-8-22msp-en