AKP Phnom Penh, August 18, 2025 --

H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), this morning called on Thailand to immediately cease making what he described as baseless and “shameless” accusations against Cambodia, including fabricating false stories to mislead national and international opinion on the landmine issue.

Speaking at a press conference on “Cambodia’s Stance Against Landmines” at the CMAA headquarters in Phnom Penh, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch categorically rejected Thailand’s claims that Cambodia had recently laid new landmines to endanger Thai soldiers.

He explained that numerous landmines remain along the Cambodia–Thailand border as remnants of past wars. “To avoid the dangers posed by these landmines, Thai forces should refrain from crossing into Cambodian territory,” he stressed.

Dr. Ly Thuch further underlined that Thailand’s accusations are an insult to Cambodia’s decades-long demining efforts, as well as to its obligations as a State Party to the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. He said such claims not only distort reality but also add to the suffering of landmine victims.

H.E. Heng Ratana, Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), echoed these remarks, emphasising that Thailand should not blame Cambodia for laying new mines when large numbers of old mines remain scattered along the border.

He stressed that incidents in which Thai forces were harmed by landmine explosions had been misused as a pretext for dangerous armed clashes with Cambodian troops. He reaffirmed that Cambodia has strictly abided by the Ottawa Treaty, holding no stockpiles of landmines and never planting new ones.

“On the contrary, Cambodia has focused its efforts on clearing mines and unexploded ordnance, turning contaminated areas into safe and productive land where citizens can build villages, develop their livelihoods, and live free from the fear of mines,” he noted.

The CMAC Director General also announced plans to continue mine clearance operations along the Cambodian–Thai border once border issues are fully resolved, with the aim of transforming the frontier into a border of peace and development for the peoples of both nations.

Article in Khmer by Chan Sophoeun
Article in English by C. Nika