Thai Military Accuses Cambodia of Planting New Landmines

BANGKOK, Aug 13 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Army has accused Cambodia of actively planting new landmines along the border, rejecting claims that a recent incident was caused by leftover wartime explosives. 

The accusation comes after a fifth Thai soldier, Sgt. Teerapon Piakantee, lost his leg to a landmine near the Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province on Aug 12.

The Royal Thai Army’s spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree stated that a detailed investigation found the mine to be a PMN-2 type, which is the same kind used in previous attacks on Thai soldiers. They noted that forensic evidence shows these are newly installed landmines, not old ordnance from past conflicts.

The Second Army Region also confirmed that its bomb disposal unit and forensic teams investigated the blast site and found that the landmine was a PMN-2, with three additional new mines discovered in the vicinity. The Second Army Region reported that the Thailand Mine Action Center has cleared 483 items of unexploded ordnance in four provinces from August 1-11, 2025.

The Thai Foreign Ministry has since lodged a formal protest with Cambodia, citing violations of both a recent ceasefire agreement and the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa said that Thailand has also written to the UN Secretary-General to explain the situation. A meeting with other Ottawa Treaty signatories, which Cambodia has refused to attend, is being organized to pressure Cambodia to cooperate in resolving the issue. - 819 (TNA)