Two Cambodia’s Ministries Firmly Rejects Thailand’s Allegations Over New Landmines Near Preah Vihear Temple

Two Cambodia’s Ministries Firmly Rejects Thailand’s Allegations Over New Landmines Near Preah Vihear Temple

Phnom Penh, November 11, 2025 — Immediately following the incident on November 10, 2025, in which several Thai soldiers were reportedly injured after stepping on a landmine while patrolling near Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple, two of Cambodia’s highest institutions — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of National Defence — have come forward to strongly reject Thailand’s accusation that Cambodia had secretly planted new landmines inside its own territory.

In their respective press releases, both ministries categorically denied the allegation, describing it as baseless and unfounded, and as a pretext used by the Thai side to suspend the implementation of the Joint Declaration between the two countries — particularly to cancel the planned release of 18 Cambodian soldiers that Thailand had earlier announced would take place on November 12, 2025.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of recognizing the well-known fact that most minefields along the Cambodia–Thailand border are remnants of Cambodia’s civil wars during the 1970s and 1980s, and many of these areas have not yet been cleared due to challenging terrain and the undemarcated status of certain border zones.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence reaffirmed Cambodia’s full and consistent compliance with its international legal obligations as a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention). The Ministry emphasized that Cambodia has never planted or used new landmines that could threaten human security or civilian safety.

The statement added that, despite Cambodia’s decades-long efforts to clear unexploded ordnance (UXO) across the country, landmines left from past conflicts continue to pose serious threats to civilians — particularly in border regions shared with neighboring countries, including Thailand.

In this regard, the Ministry of National Defence urged the Thai side to refrain from patrolling in known mine-contaminated areas, especially those internationally recognized as remnants of past conflicts, in order to avoid further incidents and prevent unnecessary escalation of tensions.

It should be noted that, as of November 11, 2025, there have been seven incidents in which Thai soldiers have stepped on landmines during patrols along the border. The details are as follows:

1. July 16, 2025 — One soldier lost a leg and three were injured near Phnom 481, Chong Bok.
2. July 23, 2025 — One soldier lost a leg near An Ses Pass.
3. July 28, 2025 — One soldier lost a leg near Ta Krabei Temple.
4. August 9, 2025 — One soldier lost a leg and three were injured near the Doung O–Kresna border area.
5. August 12, 2025 — One soldier lost a leg near Taman Thom Temple.
6. August 27, 2025 — One soldier lost a leg near Ta Krabei Temple.
7. November 10, 2025 — One soldier lost a leg and two were injured near the Phnom Trop area, Sisaket province.

These incidents, Cambodian authorities noted, clearly demonstrate the persistent danger of old landmines left from past wars, underscoring the need for continued caution, cooperation, and mutual understanding rather than misplaced blame.