Bangkok [Thailand]/Phnom Penh [Cambodia], November 11 (ANI): Thailand’s Army has accused Cambodia of laying new landmines in contested border territory, claiming the mines caused serious injuries to its soldiers and breached a peace agreement recently signed between the two countries under the oversight of US President Donald Trump.
The Bangkok Post quoted Thai Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree as saying that forensic officials inspected the landmine explosion site in Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket, on Monday afternoon and found an explosion pit along with three additional anti-personnel mines nearby.
Earlier on Monday, four Thai soldiers sustained injuries after stepping on a landmine while patrolling the border, with one soldier losing his foot, the Thai military said. Following the incident, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul suspended implementation of the Thai-Cambodian peace agreement and the planned release of 18 captured Cambodian troops.
“The act shows Cambodia’s insincerity in reducing conflict and reflects hostility, which violates the jointly signed declaration,” Maj. Gen. Winthai was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post.
Defence Minister Nattapon Narkphanit told the Thai daily that the landmine was likely freshly laid because the explosion occurred on a path regularly patrolled by Thai soldiers. Thailand has also lodged a protest with the Cambodian government.
In a statement issued late on Monday, Cambodia’s Defence Ministry rejected Thailand’s accusation, claiming the landmine that exploded and injured Thai soldiers was old and had been laid during Cambodia’s civil war, according to Cambodian state media AKP.
The ministry reaffirmed that it has “not used or placed any new landmines that threaten the security and safety of civilians.” It also reiterated Cambodia’s determination to comply with commitments outlined in the agreement and to strictly adhere to the Geneva Conventions, which ban the use of anti-personnel landmines.
The ministry expressed concern over Thailand’s suspension of all activities with Cambodia as detailed in the Joint Declaration, which included commitments to withdraw heavy weapons from the shared frontier and release Cambodian prisoners of war.
Thailand and Cambodia have long been in dispute over their 817-kilometer border, with recent tensions flaring into a military confrontation on July 24 this year.
During the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in October, the neighboring countries signed the joint declaration on the “KL Peace Accord” in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Trump had offered discounted tariff rates in exchange for a ceasefire. (ANI)
About The Author
