Cambodia Demands Evidence as Mine Authority Rejects Thai Allegations

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Nov. 25, 2025) — Cambodia’s Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) on Tuesday rejected allegations in Thai media that Cambodian forces recently planted new anti-personnel mines along the Cambodia–Thailand border, calling the claims “unsubstantiated” and “outside agreed bilateral mechanisms.”

In a statement, the CMAA said the accusations — made public in Thailand without a jointly verified investigation — lack credible evidence and contradict UN Cambodia’s commitments under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration signed by both countries on Oct. 26.

The CMAA stressed that Cambodia has not laid new mines and reaffirmed its adherence to international mine-free obligations. Addressing reports of a “newly buried PMN-2” mine, the authority said such claims must be backed by a formal technical report, including verified photographs, chain-of-custody documentation, soil analysis, time-stamped GIS data and assessment by a neutral mine-action organization.

“No such report has been shared with Cambodia through any official channel,” the statement said.

The CMAA also questioned the authenticity of materials circulated in Thai media allegedly from a Cambodian soldier’s phone, noting that neither the General Border Committee nor the Joint Coordinating Task Force has received requests from Thailand to verify digital evidence. It warned that digital materials can be easily altered without proper forensic handling and said Cambodia will only engage with evidence verified under a joint technical process.

Cambodia, which requested ASEAN’s involvement to help mediate the border situation, reiterated its appreciation for the bloc’s role in maintaining peace and dialogue. But the CMAA expressed concern that Thailand has not submitted an official report on the alleged mine incident, saying Cambodia “cannot accept any assessment that bypasses procedures agreed within the ASEAN framework.”

The authority said it regretted that the allegations were released to Thai media before being shared through bilateral channels, adding that such actions undermine trust and complicate the work of technical teams on the ground.

Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful cooperation, transparency and the safety of citizens on both sides of the border. It called for an immediate, jointly led investigation with neutral international experts to establish facts based on evidence rather than speculation.

“Cambodia fully supports a professional, scientific and impartial approach to all reported incidents,” the statement said.