Bangkok: Thailand’s Army has accused Cambodia of laying new landmines along their disputed border, alleging that the explosives seriously injured Thai soldiers and violated a recently signed peace accord brokered by former US President Donald Trump.
According to the Bangkok Post, Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said forensic teams inspected the blast site in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district on Monday and discovered an explosion pit along with three additional anti-personnel mines nearby.
Earlier that day, four Thai soldiers were injured after stepping on a landmine during a border patrol, with one losing his foot, the military confirmed.
In response, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the suspension of the Thai-Cambodian peace agreement and halted the planned release of 18 captured Cambodian soldiers.
“The act shows Cambodia’s insincerity in reducing conflict and reflects hostility in violation of the jointly signed declaration,” Maj. Gen. Winthai told the Bangkok Post.
Defence Minister Nattapon Narkphanit said the mine appeared to have been newly planted, noting that the blast occurred along a route regularly used by Thai patrols. Thailand has since lodged a formal protest with Phnom Penh.
However, Cambodia’s Defence Ministry denied the allegations, stating that the explosion was caused by an old mine left over from the country’s civil war. In a statement released through state media AKP, the ministry said it “has not used or placed any new landmines that threaten the security and safety of civilians.”
The ministry reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to the recently signed agreement and its adherence to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the use of anti-personnel mines. It also voiced concern over Thailand’s suspension of joint activities outlined in the KL Peace Accord, including the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and the release of prisoners of war.
The two Southeast Asian neighbours have a long-standing dispute over their 817-kilometre border, which has sparked periodic clashes — most recently on July 24.
During the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur last month, Thailand and Cambodia signed the KL Peace Accord in the presence of Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The deal included a ceasefire and U.S. tariff concessions in exchange for de-escalation along the frontier.
