Bangkok: The Royal Thai Army has confirmed the authenticity of documents from the Airports of Thailand (AOT) alleging the presence of "newly planted landmines" and has addressed the controversy stemming from inaccurate reports involving the Malaysian Foreign Minister.
According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Thai Army has released a statement to clear up misconceptions resulting from international news coverage, which inaccurately reported that Malaysia's foreign minister had claimed "landmines on the Thai-Cambodian border are old."
Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvari highlighted that the incorrect information originated from Bernama news agency, which has since amended its report. Maj. Gen. Winthai explained that upon thorough review by security forces, it was confirmed that the AOT report distinctly mentioned "newly placed mines," countering claims that they were old, as some media outlets erroneously reported. This error was identified as a misrepresentation rather than a statement from the Malaysian government.
The Royal Thai Army stressed the importance of accurate information dissemination, noting that incorrect reports can impact public perception and international relations. The army urged media outlets to meticulously verify information to prevent misunderstandings regarding the sensitive border situation.