Thailand’s Responses under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention) to the Landmine Incidents involving Thai Military Personnel, 10 Aug 2025

Thailand’s Responses under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention) to the Landmine Incidents involving Thai Military Personnel

Following the incidents on 16 July 2025, 23 July 2025 and 9 August 2025, in which 11 Thai military personnel were seriously injured after stepping on anti-personnel mines, which were recently planted by Cambodian military personnel, in Chong Bok area, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Chong An Ma area, Ubon Ratchathani Province, and Chong Don Ao - Krisana area in Kantharalak District, Si Sa Ket Province, respectively;   

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken actions under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention) in response to Cambodia’s violations, as follows:

 1. The Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations Office in Geneva submitted three letters to the President-designate of the 22ndMeeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention as follows:

 - In the first letter dated 23 July 2025, Thailand notified of Cambodia’s violation of Article 1 of the Convention (prohibition on the use or stockpiling of anti-personnel mines) in Chong Bok area, Ubon Ratchathani Province, during a routine patrol. The result of the investigations by the relevant Thai authorities confirmed that the landmine stepped on by Thai military personnel were recently planted and identified as a PMN-2 type, which is in Cambodia’s  possession. In this regard, Thailand has requested that the letter be circulated to all States Parties to ensure that they are duly informed of Cambodia’s violation.

 - In the second letter dated 24 July 2025, Thailand notified of a repeated violation by Cambodia in Chong An Ma area, Ubon Ratchathani Province. Thailand has also  informed that on 24 July at 08.20 hrs., Cambodia has committed an act of aggression in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand by carrying out indiscriminate armed attacks against Thailand’s territory, resulting in humanitarian consequences and constituting a violation of international law, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. In this regard, Thailand has requested that the letter be circulated to all States Parties to ensure that they are duly informed of Cambodia’s violation.

 - In the third letter dated 9 August 2025, Thailand notified of Cambodia’s violation of its obligations in Chong Don Ao - Krisana area in Kantharalak District, Si Sa Ket Province, which had previously been cleared of landmines. The result of the investigation suggested that the landmine was recently planted, which constitutes a gross violation of international law. Regrettably, this incident also occurred just two days after the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, during which Thailand proposed the inclusion of joint demining operations, as earlier agreed upon between the Prime Ministers of the two countries. Unfortunately, Cambodia declined to accept Thailand’s proposal. In this regard, Thailand has requested that the letter be circulated to all States Parties to ensure that they are duly informed of Cambodia’s violation.

 2. The Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in New York submitted a letter dated 24 July 2025 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, requesting for clarification from Cambodia on the acts that constituted a violation of the Ottawa Convention, in accordance with the compliance mechanism under the Convention, pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 2, of the Convention which stipulates that a State Party may seek clarification to resolve questions related to compliance with the provisions of the Convention by another State Party through the UN Secretary-General. In this regard, Cambodia is obliged to provide information and clarification to Thailand through the UN Secretary-General.

 3. In addition to the above responses, the Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations Office in Geneva and the Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in New York have also called on the President-designate of the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other high-level representatives of several States Parties and relevant civil society organizations, urging them to take appropriate actions in response to Cambodia’s violations of its obligations. Facts and information have also been presented to the Committee on Cooperative Compliance under the Ottawa Convention. These procedures remain ongoing in accordance with the relevant mandate and procedures.

Under the Ottawa Convention, States Parties are prohibited from the use, stockpiling, producing, or transferring anti-personnel mines, and are required to destroy anti-personnel mines in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. Currently, there are 165 States Parties to the Convention. Thailand became a State Party in 1999 (the first country in Southeast Asia to do so), and has completed the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines in 2003, as well as those retained for research and training purposes in 2019. Cambodia became a State Party in 2000 and continues to retain anti-personnel mines for research and training purposes, including PMN-2 type mines.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

10 August 2025