Summary of Press Briefing on the Briefing for the Diplomatic Corps and International Organizations working within the framework of the Ottawa Convention on incidents regarding the use of anti-personnel mines by Cambodia by the Director-General of the Department of Information / MFA Spokesperson On 15 August 2025 at 11:00 hrs. MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB LIVE / Tik Tok LIVE
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a briefing for members of the diplomatic corps from ASEAN Member States and States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or the Ottawa Convention, as well as representatives from international organizations and civil society organizations engaged in mine clearance. The objective was to provide participants with facts related to recurring landmine incidents in Thailand near the border with Cambodia as well as information in support of Thailand’s subsequent actions and responses to such acts. The briefing was attended by Ambassadors or representatives from 41 countries, 1 organization, and 4 international organizations, totaling 67 participants.
H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered the opening remarks via video message, underlining his intention for the international community to receive a full and accurate account of Cambodia’s use of anti-personnel landmines – which is an act that constitutes a violation of the Ottawa Convention, to which it is a State Party. He also stressed Cambodia’s lack of genuine commitment to demining operations despite Thailand’s proposals on this matter over the past several years, and reaffirmed Thailand’s strong commitment to fully complying with the Ottawa Convention and strictly adhering to the ceasefire agreement.
H.E. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, summarized key outcomes of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting held on 7 August 2025. He highlighted the impact of landmine use on the safety and well-being of local communities in the border areas, and recounted that the Thai side proposed cooperation on mine clearance as well as on combating online scams, at that time. However, it was turned down by the Cambodian side. He also emphasized the transparency of Thailand’s conduct, for example, by organizing a site visit on 1 August 2025 for the diplomatic corps to observe the consequences of Cambodia’s indiscriminate attacks. A similar visit is scheduled for 16 August 2025 to specifically observe the landmine situation along the border.
Lieutenant General Nattapong Praokaew, Director-General of the Department of Border Affairs, Royal Thai Armed Forces, and a representative of the Humanitarian Mine Action Unit provided facts recounting the successive and repeated incidents of Thai soldiers stepping on landmines planted by the Cambodian side, the first of which was on 16 July 2025 in the Chong Bok area, Ubon Ratchathani Province, and the most recent one on 12 August 2025. Information was also shared on Thailand’s work and the use of technology in mine detection and mine clearance as well as the role of the Humanitarian Mine Action Unit in demining efforts.
Mr. Piyapak Sricharoen, Director-General of the Department of the East Asian Affairs, gave an overview of the past efforts undertaken by Thailand for both sides to engage in joint landmine clearance. However, the recent unfortunate incidents indicate that humanitarian demining is no longer a priority for Cambodia. Thailand has already lodged protests through diplomatic channels and will continue to raise this issue at the upcoming Regional Border Committee (RBC) and GBC Meetings.
Ms. Pinsuda Jayanama, Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, provided information regarding violations of international law, the United Nations Charter and the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side in connection with the laying of landmines. She also gave details on Thailand’s actions to clarify the facts and lodge protests in the relevant multilateral platforms.
Salient points from the briefing include:
Thailand remains firmly committed to international law and stands ready to fully comply with its international obligations, including those under the Ottawa Convention, aiming to eliminate landmines for both safety and humanitarian reasons. To date, Thailand has cleared and returned over 99.5 per cent of mine-contaminated areas, covering some 2,500 square kilometers, back to local communities. Thailand also continues to assist landmine survivors so that they can live with dignity within society.
Within a span of less than one month, Thai soldiers stepped on landmines laid by the Cambodian side on five occasions – on 16, 23, and 28 July, and more recently, on 9 and 12 August. These incidents have resulted in five soldiers being permanently disabled and dozens injured. The Thai side has concrete evidence indicating that the landmines found along the border are recently planted and identified as PMN-2 type, not remnants of war as falsely claimed by Cambodia. In contrast, Thailand has already destroyed all anti-personnel mines.
Thailand has lodged protests against Cambodia through various channels, including through the framework of the Ottawa Convention, and by sending letters of protest addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the United Nations Security Council. Thailand condemns in the strongest term the use of anti-personnel mines by the Cambodian side. Such action constitutes a violation of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, an outright breach of international law, including the principles that are fundamental to the United Nations Charter, as well as a clear violation of the international humanitarian law and the obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention), to which both Thailand and Cambodia are States Parties. Furthermore, this also violates the ceasefire agreement, which requires both countries to cease the use of all types of weapons, including anti-personnel landmines.
Cambodia has refused to engage in discussions on demining, as well as on combatting online scams, as proposed by Thailand during the recent Extraordinary GBC Meeting. This reflects a lack of sincerity and good faith on the part of Cambodia. Thailand therefore calls on Cambodia to immediately cease actions that violate the Ottawa Convention and the ceasefire agreement, to demonstrate genuine commitment to restoring peace along the border, and to resume demining cooperation with Thailand in the border areas.
Thailand expects that this critical issue of mine clearance will be duly considered at the upcoming RBC and GBC Meetings, as it directly impacts the safety and livelihoods of people living on both sides of the border.
On 16 August 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the relevant Thai agencies, will organize a field visit to Si Sa Ket Province for the diplomatic corps from ASEAN Member States, States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, and representatives from civil society organizations engaged in mine clearance operations, as well as members of the Thai and foreign media. The specific purpose of this visit is to observe the damage caused by Cambodia’s use of landmines. With evidence collected during the visit, the participants will be able to take careful consideration in reviewing the assistance provided to Cambodia in its demining efforts and to exert pressure on Cambodia to fulfill its duty as a responsible State Party to the Ottawa Convention.
Thailand reaffirms its commitment to resolving border issues and de-escalating tensions with Cambodia peacefully through existing bilateral mechanisms, including the RBC, GBC, and JBC. Thailand will strictly adhere to the ceasefire agreement, with sincerity and in good faith, and expects Cambodia to engage with Thailand in the same manner.
Thailand calls on Cambodia to cease disseminating misinformation and disinformation. Such actions not only violate the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which asks both sides to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news, but also undermines efforts to create an environment conducive to resolving differences and reducing existing tensions.