Thai authorities urge United Nations to probe Cambodia's alleged illegal landmining at the border, advocating for joint demining operations.

The Thailand-Cambodia border has been marred by a series of incidents since the ceasefire agreement was reached through the General Border Committee (GBC). The latest incident, which occurred on August 27, 2025, near Ta Kwai Temple in Surin Province, has sparked a call to action from the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF).

According to Maj Gen Vithai Laithomya, the RTARF spokesman, a Thai soldier stepped on a landmine, and the evidence presented does not support the Cambodian Ministry of Defence's claim of the mines being remnants from past wars. Instead, the mines found were of the PMN-2 type, which were recently planted by Cambodian military forces.

The RTARF has urged joint demining efforts with Cambodia's Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and has requested the assistance of UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Thai military is also ready to support demining efforts by providing funding, allowances, and full logistical support if Cambodia lacks the necessary budget.

However, the Cambodian Ministry of Defence has denied the allegations of illegal landmine placement, claiming compliance with the Ottawa Convention. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is engaged in the region's conflict-related issues, sending staff to the Thailand-Cambodia border to meet those affected by the conflict and coordinating with the Thai and Cambodian Red Cross societies to provide humanitarian aid.

The ASEAN is also involved, with an observers’ mission led by Malaysia established under a 13-point plan agreed upon by Cambodia and Thailand to implement a ceasefire and maintain military communication and prevent misinformation. This includes monitoring and possibly verifying ceasefire violations such as illegal mine-laying along the border.

Despite these efforts, there is no explicit mention of any other international organizations being officially called upon by Thailand specifically to investigate or verify the claims of illegal mine-laying by Cambodian forces at the Thai-Cambodian border. The failure to act in the face of clear evidence, as the Thai military reiterates, is detrimental to both the honour of the military and to the ongoing peace process in the region. The incident points to a clear and ongoing violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Other evidence, such as photographs from Cambodian social media, also show the presence of PMN-2 mines near Ta Kwai Temple and incidents where Cambodian troops were found in ambush positions and several PMN-2 mines were discovered nearby. The Thai military has invited the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) to join international efforts to clear the mines and verify the facts on the ground.

The mines found recently show newer plastic casing, clear markings, and are significantly different from the older mines previously used in Cambodia, further supporting the RTARF's claims. The Thai military reiterates that the failure to act in the face of clear evidence is detrimental to both the honour of the military and to the ongoing peace process in the region. The illegal landmine placement is in violation of the Ottawa Convention, to which Cambodia is a signatory.

The RTARF has called on the United Nations (UN) to investigate Cambodia's illegal landmine placement along the Thai-Cambodian border, emphasising the need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing tensions. As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for both nations to uphold their commitments to the ceasefire agreement and work towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing disputes.

Thai authorities urge United Nations to probe Cambodia's alleged illegal landmining at the border, advocating for joint demining operations.