Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Cross-Border Attacks Over “Unverified” Landmine Allegations

GENEVA (Nov. 6, 2025) — Cambodia accused Thailand of launching military attacks across their shared border based on what it called “unverified and unsubstantiated” landmine allegations, raising the issue before the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in Geneva.

Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, told delegates at the Palais des Nations that Thailand’s actions marked a dangerous precedent.

“In the history of this Convention, which country has ever launched a military attack against its neighbor over unverified landmine incidents? Regrettably, this is precisely what Cambodia has endured,” Thuch said.

He said Thai armed forces had carried out military operations in recent months over accusations Cambodia insists were never supported by impartial or legally grounded investigation.

Such claims, he warned, erode trust and undermine the principles of fairness, integrity and good-neighborly relations that underpin the treaty.​ Thuch criticized Bangkok for invoking Article 8.2 of the Convention — a compliance mechanism — without first exhausting dialogue under Article 8.1.

“This shortcut demonstrates neither good faith nor honesty. It is not cooperation; it is confrontation, and confrontation will never resolve this issue peacefully,” he said.

Cambodia argued the matter should have been handled through bilateral mechanisms rather than brought before what Thuch called a “respected Assembly.”

Reiterating Cambodia’s humanitarian record, Thuch said the country has not laid anti-personnel mines since joining the treaty and has earned global recognition for clearance operations and support to other affected states.

“No politically motivated narrative can change these facts,” he said, adding that sympathy for victims “must not replace truth.”

Political science expert Kin Phea described Thailand’s repeated claims of newly planted mines as “a provocative and misleading attempt to divert attention from its own violations.”

“Thailand has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity,” he said. “Their landmine accusation is simply an attempt to distract the world from their own cruelty.”

Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, said any credible investigation must examine all weapons used in the conflict zone, including cluster munitions and chemical agents. Selective probes, he warned, would give Thailand “another opportunity to distort or avoid evidence.”