Cambodia Pushes Back on Thai Demining Plan, Calls for Joint Protocols

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct.10,2025) — Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense has formally responded to a Thai notice to begin demining operations along the border, urging that any such work proceed only under jointly agreed protocols.

On Oct. 9, Cambodia’s 51st Infantry Brigade, part of the 5th Military Region, issued its response to a plan from Thailand’s Burapha Task Force. The Thai proposal targeted two border areas: Chok Chey village in Cambodia, opposite Nong Chan village in Thailand, and Prey Chan village in Cambodia, opposite Nong Ya Kaeo village in Thailand.

Cambodia said both countries agreed on Sept. 24 to establish a Joint Coordinating Task Force, or JCTF, to oversee demining efforts. Since then, the two sides have exchanged and revised two versions of Standard Operating Procedures.

According to the statement, the JCTF held its second meeting via video conference on the morning of Oct. 9. Cambodia described the session as yielding “positive, noticeable and fruitful results,” with unresolved issues to be addressed in future discussions.

Cambodia said that once the SOPs are approved, the JCTF will jointly identify priority zones and pilot sites for humanitarian demining.

However, Cambodia argued that Thailand’s plan to begin demining on Oct. 10 in Chok Chey and Prey Chan contradicts agreements made at the First Special Meeting of the General Border Committee on Sept. 10. It called for the operation to be postponed until higher-level approval is granted and JCTF procedures are followed.

In its closing remarks, the 51st Infantry Brigade expressed hope that Thailand’s Burapha Task Force would accept the response and cooperate constructively.