Bangkok: The National Security Council (NSDC) has verified the authenticity of a video showing Cambodian soldiers violating the landmine agreement, a move that contravenes the Ottawa Convention. This evidence is set to be submitted on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into the matter.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry of Defense's spokesman, Rear Admiral Surasan Kongsiri, and Ms. Maratee Nalita Andamo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared insights from a recent meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Management Task Force (CBMS). The meeting highlighted that while the overall border situation remains stable, discoveries by the Royal Thai Navy have provided substantial evidence of Cambodian soldiers using PMN 2 anti-personnel mines in the Phu Makhuea area.
On August 19, 2015, the 1st Clearance Team of the Royal Thai Navy's Humanitarian Mine Action Unit discovered a discarded mobile phone belonging to a Cambodian soldier. This phone contained video clips and photographs showing Cambodian soldiers with PMN 2 anti-personnel mines. The recordings, in Khmer, were made before the mines were deployed in the border area. This evidence, including date, time, and location details, will support Thailand's claims of Cambodia's serious breach of the landmine agreement at the upcoming Ottawa Convention Conference.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been briefed on these findings and plans to present the evidence at the conference on Friday, August 22. Maj. Gen. Surasan also detailed the operations of the temporary observer team (IOT), which operated from August 18-20, following an agreement reached at the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Malaysia on August 7, 2025.
The observer team, informed by the 22nd Military Circle in Ubon Ratchathani Province, visited several key locations, including the Chong An Ma area, where Cambodian forces had previously removed barbed wire. The team verified that the area was under Thai sovereignty and observed the aftermath of BM-21 rocket attacks by Cambodian forces, which resulted in casualties and property damage among Thai civilians.
Further inspections at the Phu Makhuea area revealed additional mines, prompting negotiations for the repatriation of Cambodian soldiers' remains. The Thai Army is set to summarize its operations on August 21 and establish a liaison office with the observer delegation at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. ASEAN observers are currently using the Malaysian Defence Attach©'s office in Thailand as a temporary liaison office.
In Ban Nong Chan, Sa Kaeo Province, a historical site for Cambodian refugees fleeing the 1975 genocide, tensions remain due to encroachments on Thai territory. Despite Thailand's past humanitarian aid, unresolved issues around refugee settlements continue to strain relations. Rear Admiral Surasan emphasized Thailand's right to safeguard its territory and people, addressing illegal mine laying by Cambodia under the GBC agreement.
Ms. Maratee countered claims that the video of landmine deployment was staged, affirming its authenticity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing for the Ottawa Convention Committee meeting on August 22, which will address compliance issues.