Phnom penh: The Royal Thai Army’s recent accusations against Cambodia regarding a landmine incident near the Tamone Temple in Oddar Meanchey province have sparked concerns of escalating military tension between the two nations. The claims by Second Army Area Commander Lt. Gen. Boonsin Padklang, who has labeled the incident a ‘provocative act’ within Thai territory and a ‘clear violation’ of the ceasefire, have been criticized as reckless and destabilizing.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Cambodia-Thailand border is heavily laden with landmines, remnants of past conflicts that pose ongoing risks to both soldiers and civilians. Despite the dangerous legacy, Cambodia has been at the forefront of mine clearance efforts, investing significant resources to remove millions of mines and unexploded ordnance. The recent allegations that Cambodia has planted new mines are considered unfounded and implausible.
Lt. Gen. Boonsin’s assertions appear to serve a strategic agenda. By unilaterally declaring the blast as occurring ‘inside Thai territory’ and labeling it as a deliberate provocation without independent verification, Thailand positions itself as the victim and Cambodia as the aggressor. This narrative aligns with a pattern of Thai military actions, including unauthorized patrols in contested areas and aggressive rhetoric regarding Cambodian temples, which now extends to leveraging humanitarian hazards as a pretext for military action.
The current situation suggests that Thailand is utilizing a false narrative around landmines to justify potential aggression towards Cambodia. If the fragile ceasefire deteriorates, it will likely be attributed to Thailand’s preference for confrontation over diplomatic resolution, a fact the international community will be unable to ignore.
Under international law, the right to self-defense is reserved for deliberate armed attacks, not accidental incidents in known minefields. Thailand has yet to provide credible evidence of any hostile actions by Cambodia. Instead, it appears to be distorting a tragic humanitarian incident into a justification for conflict, thereby undermining the ceasefire it professes to support.
For genuine peace, Thailand should participate in a joint investigation under neutral international supervision, share information on minefield locations, and cease unilateral military operations in disputed regions. Cambodia remains open to transparency and cooperation but refuses to be wrongfully accused as a pretext for war.
Cambodia is committed to maintaining the ceasefire, engaging in dialogue, and exposing false narratives. If the Thai military disrupts the peace based on misinformation, the global community will clearly identify the responsible party. Should conflict reignite, the responsibility will rest on Thailand, not Cambodia, as evidenced by previous violations on July 24 that highlighted who first breached the peace.