CAMBODIA–THAILAND BORDER CONFLICT

Three Thai soldiers were injured on Saturday after one triggered a landmine near the border with Cambodia, prompting Thailand’s army to accuse its neighbor of violating international law by planting concealed weapons. The incident risks reigniting tensions despite a recent ceasefire agreement.

The Thai army stated that the incident, which occurred in Thailand’s Sisaket province, resulted in a sergeant major losing his left foot, while two privates sustained less serious injuries. The army asserted that the presence of concealed weapons in the border area “clearly demonstrates… a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side.” The Ottawa Convention is an international treaty banning landmines, signed by both Thailand and Cambodia, along with 162 other nations.

Cambodia has vehemently denied the accusation. The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority released a statement affirming, “We have not, and will not, plant new landmines.” They highlighted their extensive efforts to clear over 1 million mines and nearly 3 million other unexploded ordnance dating back to decades of war and civil unrest that began in 1970.

The landmine explosion occurred just two days after Thailand and Cambodia reaffirmed their commitment to a ceasefire, which had ended a brief but intense period of fighting. Last month, five Thai soldiers were wounded in a similar incident, leading to five days of clashes that resulted in at least 43 deaths on both sides and displaced over 260,000 people – the worst fighting between the two nations in over a decade.

Since the truce agreed on July 29, both sides have accused the other of breaches. The Thai army’s statement emphasized that Saturday’s incident constitutes “a significant obstacle to the implementation of ceasefire measures and peaceful resolution of problems.” Relations remain volatile, further complicated by a mix of disinformation, threats, and nationalism circulating online.