Picture courtesy of Thai PBS World

 

The Thai army is holding its position and keeping border checkpoints with Cambodia closed. Commanding the Second Army Region, Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang stated today that Thai troops will remain at the 11 strategic locations they seized during recent clashes with Cambodian forces from July 24 to 28. Key sites under Thai control include Phu Makua, the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, and Preah Vihear.

 

Lt Gen Boonsin announced plans to discuss landmine issues at the upcoming Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting in Malaysia. The Thai and Cambodian RBC secretariats have scheduled preliminary talks to ensure smooth discussions at the official meeting later this month.

 

Amidst ceasefire negotiations in Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia dismissed Thailand’s request for landmine cooperation and efforts to combat online scams originating from the country.

 

In a recent diplomatic move, Thailand sent protest notes to the United Nations. These accusative notes claim Cambodia's violation of the Ottawa Convention through the deployment of anti-personnel landmines, posing a significant danger to Thai soldiers along the border, reported Thai PBS World.

 

Lt Gen Boonsin emphasised the ongoing need for Thai troop patrols to safeguard territorial sovereignty. He highlighted the use of heavy machinery in patrol operations for enhanced safety. With his retirement expected at the end of September, Boonsin expressed confidence in his successor's capability to continue border defence effectively.

 

His leadership style throughout the border dispute, marked by firmness and decisiveness, has earned him considerable acclaim. Despite calls for an extension of his tenure, Boonsin is set on completing his service term as scheduled, leaving a legacy of resilience in protecting national interests on the Cambodian frontier.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-08-15

 

as part of the ceadfire - landmine locations should have been shared - this so called cease fire is nonsence, ,    mines are a tell, they pretty much have nothing left, if I was Thailand  right now  i would demand the location of mines and if they refuse then go for it 

1 hour ago, smedly said:

if I was Thailand  right now  i would demand the location of mines and if they refuse then go for it 

Go for what exactly? Invasion/annexation...........?

How far are you suggesting they 'go'...........

In a recent diplomatic move, Thailand sent protest notes to the United Nations

 

Waste of time, look at what's happening in Ukraine 

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

In a recent diplomatic move, Thailand sent protest notes to the United Nations

 

Waste of time, look at what's happening in Ukraine 

Israel approach on Hamas then?

Yep, gotta keep this in the news every day until the establishment gets their authoritarian right-wing administration into place. What will tomorrow's fake news be? Two more landmines? A bomb that 'must be friom Cambodian forces'? The Thai media will just report whatever they are told without question. It's so easy to make people believe nonsense here. 

It's all a deflection from in-house issues.

Since in power nothing has changed much, that goes for either side of the border, if anything, things are worse..

So lets show our might, enrage the nationalists to support the government.

 

Meanwhile flights between Bangkok and Phnom Penh still continue.

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Yep, gotta keep this in the news every day until the establishment gets their authoritarian right-wing administration into place. What will tomorrow's fake news be? Two more landmines? A bomb that 'must be friom Cambodian forces'? The Thai media will just report whatever they are told without question. It's so easy to make people believe nonsense here. 

 

Exactly, manufacturing consent. Cambodia only the weak neighbour used as a pawn. The establishment is so scared of the progressives, theyll stop at nothing

Cambodians are nice people. Military commanders think they are helping the country by starting problems but in the end everyone loses (except those with Swiss bank accounts).

35 minutes ago, IsaanGuy said:

Meanwhile flights between Bangkok and Phnom Penh still continue.

 

Also flights between Siem Reap and Bangkok (bringing many tourists from Siam into Cambodia, as I witnessed recently on a flight from DMK to SAI)

All flights with Air Asia operating as normal (pre-border disputes)

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Key sites under Thai control include Phu Makua, the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, and Preah Vihear.

 

Sorry, FAKE NEWS again. 

The UNESCO Preah Vihear temple complex is on Cambodian land, as judged by the ICJ. In fact, the Cambodian Government has issued a complaint to UNESCO about the damage committed by the Siamese  military

 

During the 2025 Cambodia–Thailand border conflict, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said the temple suffered "substantial damage" from Thai attacks.^{[37] (wikipedia)}

 

In late July 2025, the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was damaged by Thai military forces during border clashes with Cambodia. Cambodia's Ministry of Culture strongly condemned the attacks, stating that the temple and its surrounding landscape were severely damaged by artillery shelling and aerial bombardment, including the use of drones and F-16 fighter jets. The Cambodian government has called for international condemnation and action to protect the temple from further damage and hold Thailand accountable.  (Google)

 

 

 

1 hour ago, IsaanGuy said:

Meanwhile flights between Bangkok and Phnom Penh still continue.

 

Sure, they wouldn't want to inconvenience business travelers with their silly posturing. 

59 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Sorry, FAKE NEWS again. 

The UNESCO Preah Vihear temple complex is on Cambodian land, as judged by the ICJ. In fact, the Cambodian Government has issued a complaint to UNESCO about the damage committed by the Siamese  military

Agree, it's a case of if Thailand can't get their sticky fingers on it they will destroy it and then no one can have it. 

10 hours ago, smedly said:

as part of the ceadfire - landmine locations should have been shared - this so called cease fire is nonsence, ,    mines are a tell, they pretty much have nothing left, if I was Thailand  right now  i would demand the location of mines and if they refuse then go for it 

You obviously don't live in an endangered region.

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

Cambodians are nice people. Military commanders think they are helping the country by starting problems but in the end everyone loses (except those with Swiss bank accounts).

I seriously doubt Cambodia started this. There's another agenda at work - still in play. Otherwise all would be quiet by now - and the nonsense in the Thai media would have subsided. But it's being fed daily - on purpose.

3 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Also flights between Siem Reap and Bangkok (bringing many tourists from Siam into Cambodia, as I witnessed recently on a flight from DMK to SAI)

All flights with Air Asia operating as normal (pre-border disputes)

Flights may be operating normally but there is an issue.  My GF was on a flight full of Western and Indian tourist famililes with about 20 other Thais on Monday 11 August 2025 from DMK to Siem Reap.  All the Thais were segregrated by Khymer Immigration and told they would be returned to Thailand.  

 

My GF has a long term visa and stated her case that she lived with me, showing long stay visas for the previous few years.  She remained calm but argued her case firmly with Khymer Immigration, for more than 1 hour, before the senior officer permitted her entry.  The other Thais were not so lucky.

 

Our taxi driver advised that for the previous few weeks that Thai residents were reporting to Police or being picked up with some being deported.  He advised that it might be better for us not to talk Thai when out in public as feeling among the population was running high.  

 

We are going out tonight for a few drinks, at our usual haunts, to see what happens.

1 hour ago, Encore said:

Flights may be operating normally but there is an issue.  My GF was on a flight full of Western and Indian tourist famililes with about 20 other Thais on Monday 11 August 2025 from DMK to Siem Reap.  All the Thais were segregrated by Khymer Immigration and told they would be returned to Thailand.  

 

My GF has a long term visa and stated her case that she lived with me, showing long stay visas for the previous few years.  She remained calm but argued her case firmly with Khymer Immigration, for more than 1 hour, before the senior officer permitted her entry.  The other Thais were not so lucky.

 

Our taxi driver advised that for the previous few weeks that Thai residents were reporting to Police or being picked up with some being deported.  He advised that it might be better for us not to talk Thai when out in public as feeling among the population was running high.  

 

We are going out tonight for a few drinks, at our usual haunts, to see what happens.

 

You live in Cambodia but you cannot spell Khmer? Be careful, they might come after you next. 555

1 hour ago, Encore said:

Flights may be operating normally but there is an issue.  My GF was on a flight full of Western and Indian tourist famililes with about 20 other Thais on Monday 11 August 2025 from DMK to Siem Reap.  All the Thais were segregrated by Khymer Immigration and told they would be returned to Thailand.  

 

My GF has a long term visa and stated her case that she lived with me, showing long stay visas for the previous few years.  She remained calm but argued her case firmly with Khymer Immigration, for more than 1 hour, before the senior officer permitted her entry.  The other Thais were not so lucky.

 

Our taxi driver advised that for the previous few weeks that Thai residents were reporting to Police or being picked up with some being deported.  He advised that it might be better for us not to talk Thai when out in public as feeling among the population was running high.  

 

We are going out tonight for a few drinks, at our usual haunts, to see what happens.

 

Sorry to read about your GF's experience in Siem Reap.

I experienced something similar when returning from a hospital appointment in Thailand, but at DMK in Thailand on 4th August 2025.

 

I am a UK Citizen now living in Cambodia.

 

At the Air Asia check-in desk, I presented my passport and booking reference to obtain my boarding pass but nothing. The lady asked to see my visa for Cambodia and I selected the relevant page in my passport (which also had expired Thai Retirement visas). She made a phone call and then wanted to know my return flight to Thailand, having shown my retirement visa for living in Cambodia. She then disappeared with my passport into an office leaving me in a wheelchair with my attendant, and the check-in desk now closed, much to the annoyance of many other passengers queuing to check-in.  After some time, she then returned with my passport and asked where I lived in Thailand. Again I had to explain I lived in Cambodia. My documentation was finally processed and I was told I had been cleared to leave Thailand. (By whom, Thai Military or Thai Immigration?)

 

I have posted this before and someone suggested it was an incompetent Air Asia lady who did not understand the situation. IMO I do not think this was the case. I have flown with Air Asia over many miles and many years without ever experiencing such an incident. I have always found the AA check-in staff very efficient and experienced, even with my flights to Mandalay and Rangoon in Burma!

 

Incidentally, my return flight home to Siem Reap was full with tourists of many Nationalities (based on ethnic appearance). For me, negotiating Cambodian Immigration was so easy and hassle free.

 

Enjoy your drinks.

 

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Thai PBS World

 

Commanding the Second Army Region, Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang stated today that Thai troops will remain at the 11 strategic locations they seized during recent clashes with Cambodian forces from July 24 to 28. Key sites under Thai control include Phu Makua, the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, and Preah Vihear.

 

 

 

That is, they recognize that the Thai army entered Cambodia and seized the temples that are in Cambodian territory.

 

 

20 hours ago, smedly said:

as part of the ceadfire - landmine locations should have been shared - this so called cease fire is nonsence, ,    mines are a tell, they pretty much have nothing left, if I was Thailand  right now  i would demand the location of mines and if they refuse then go for it 

 

No one, anywhere, has a map of landmine locations along this border.

 

I worked there for many years, know the situation well.

 

Most of these mines were planted (and dug up and replanted) decades ago. No one kept records.

 

The only thing known are which areas have been effectively demined. These, for obvious logistical reasons, exclude rocky mountainous terrain and also a lot of heavy forest where no one lives or farms. 

 

in other words, you can know (with reasonable confidence) where mines are not. You cannot know where they are. 

 

Add to this that mines shift location in the rains, and deeper ones not previously a problem (at least for foot traffic) can become a problem 

 

The Cambodians living near this border, or frequently traveling there, , know well which areas are risky and best avoided where possible, but even they suffer injuries on occasion when travel through areas not previously demined is unavoidable, or when mines have shifted due to the rains.

 

I think the problem is that Thai troops/personnel are now venturing into some of these areas for the first time. 

 

That someone was injured by a mine in such places does not necessarily (or even probably) mean that someone newly planted it there. This area has been a literal minefield for decades.  That's one of the reasons no one lives there. Local people carefully stick to paths known safe and don't diverge from them, if they must enter these areas at all. 

 

 

24 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

No one, anywhere, has a map of landmine locations along this border.

 

I worked there for many years, know the situation well.

 

Most of these mines were planted (and dug up and replanted) decades ago. No one kept records.

 

The only thing known are which areas have been effectively demined. These, for obvious logistical reasons, exclude rocky mountainous terrain and also a lot of heavy forest where no one lives or farms. 

 

in other words, you can know (with reasonable confidence) where mines are not. You cannot know where they are. 

 

Add to this that mines shift location in the rains, and deeper ones not previously a problem (at least for foot traffic) can become a problem 

 

The Cambodians living near this border, or frequently traveling there, , know well which areas are risky and best avoided where possible, but even they suffer injuries on occasion when travel through areas not previously demined is unavoidable, or when mines have shifted due to the rains.

 

I think the problem is that Thai troops/personnel are now venturing into some of these areas for the first time. 

 

That someone was injured by a mine in such places does not necessarily (or even probably) mean that someone newly planted it there. This area has been a literal minefield for decades.  That's one of the reasons no one lives there. Local people carefully stick to paths known safe and don't diverge from them, if they must enter these areas at all. 

 

 

very informative and also sad

 

thanks for the info/update

10 hours ago, Sheryl said:

This area has been a literal minefield for decades.

 

Sincere thanks Sheryl for your very informative explanation of the dangers in the mountainous areas in dispute.  I have also travelled through these areas in recent years and know only too well the dangers of deviating and wandering off clearly identified roads, tracks and paths to avoid a possible landmine laid many years ago, mainly by the Khmer Rouge I believe?

 

I used to make hospital visits to Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen by car, but now that the border crossings at Anlo Veng and O'Smach are closed, these visits are out of the question. 2 weeks ago I had to fly from Siem Reap for an appointment at the Ratchaphruek Hospital in Khon Kaen, at a cost of 400$ in travel expenses before my medical costs! Sadly Thai hospitals are now no longer of interest to me and I have cancelled my appointment for February 2026. Fortunately there are now new private hospitals in Phnom Penh built and operated by friendly nations of Cambodia - (for reference google)

 

Several new private hospitals in Phnom Penh are backed by international investment, particularly from Japan and Malaysia. Specifically, Sunrise Japan Hospital was established through collaboration with Japanese investors. Additionally, Sunway Medical Centre from Malaysia has partnered with local Cambodian entities to provide healthcare services. Furthermore, a hospital project, Cho-Ray Phnom Penh Hospital, is a collaboration between Cambodian and Vietnamese entities. 

 

My Khmer landlord has also suggested Malaysia and that, evidently, is where some monied Cambodian patients now go for treatment. There are direct flights from Siem Reap and Phnom Penh to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia. Yes, I appreciate it is costly but it means we do not have to worry about relying on Thailand anymore. As for Thai medical and wellness tourism, I am afraid that concept is "now out of the window" as far as Cambodia is concerned. Cambodians needing specialist emergency treatment are allowed into Thailand at a land border crossing on humanitarian grounds. 

 

Thanks again Sheryl and have an enjoyable weekend.

 

On 8/15/2025 at 1:26 PM, hotchilli said:

It's all a deflection from in-house issues.

Since in power nothing has changed much, that goes for either side of the border, if anything, things are worse..

So lets show our might, enrage the nationalists to support the government.

 

I think there's truth, in principle, to that. But it's not the government doing this IMO, although it's playing along with its enemies that are behind this. Bear in mind the nationalists are not friends of the governing party - the nationalists are pawns (and/or sometimes part of) the establishment that want a right-wing, anti-progressive authoritarian government installed. That's why the progressive young People's Party (former MFP) are calling for a snap election. They know if an election doesn't happen soon, there will be a coup (of some kind, judicial, army, whatever) and the average Thai person's democratic aspirations will be exiled to the political wilderness for another 5+ years.

 

I agree though, Thaksin is holding this back (no election) - he thinks he's Thailand's Trump - the deal maker with the shady establishment parties. My own sense, is that he's fooling himself. IMO, The establishment hidden hands are planning to ditch Thaksin now that the previous deal with him isn't working for them any longer. The legal case against his daughter - as naive as she appears - is ridiculous. The legal case against Thaksin, perhaps less so. So all part of the grand plan. But I think the straw that broke the camel's back, and started all this sabre rattling along the border is the actual distraction - and was triggered by taking back the Interior Ministry from Anutin (one of the Establishment coalition's main partners). That post is probably a money maker and (could be) very powerful from a strategic security perspective.

20 hours ago, Encore said:

Flights may be operating normally but there is an issue.  My GF was on a flight full of Western and Indian tourist famililes with about 20 other Thais on Monday 11 August 2025 from DMK to Siem Reap.  All the Thais were segregrated by Khymer Immigration and told they would be returned to Thailand.  

 

My GF has a long term visa and stated her case that she lived with me, showing long stay visas for the previous few years.  She remained calm but argued her case firmly with Khymer Immigration, for more than 1 hour, before the senior officer permitted her entry.  The other Thais were not so lucky.

 

Our taxi driver advised that for the previous few weeks that Thai residents were reporting to Police or being picked up with some being deported.  He advised that it might be better for us not to talk Thai when out in public as feeling among the population was running high.  

 

We are going out tonight for a few drinks, at our usual haunts, to see what happens.

 

Update from night out.  No issues at all with everyone being friendly and welcoming.  We maintained a relatively low profile,  spoke English and some basic Khmer phrases.  All the locals that knew us came to greet us and say they had no problem with Thai people and no one else they knew had an issue.  One large restaurant was also playing Thai songs.  A very pleasant evening 

 

14 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I think the problem is that Thai troops/personnel are now venturing into some of these areas for the first time. 

Good post with first-hand knowledge of mines/demining. Who planted them in the first place (decades ago)? The Thais fearful of the Khmer Rouge or vice versa or both? Or the Americans as part of their Indochina war against communism? (also the US had air bases in that region at the time).

15 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Good post with first-hand knowledge of mines/demining. Who planted them in the first place (decades ago)? The Thais fearful of the Khmer Rouge or vice versa or both? Or the Americans as part of their Indochina war against communism? (also the US had air bases in that region at the time).

 

Yes indeed. (reference Google)

 

During the Vietnam War, the United States utilized seven Royal Thai Air Force bases as staging hubs for operations in Laos and Cambodia. These included Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Takhli, Ubon, Korat, Don Muang, and U-Tapao. These bases supported a wide range of missions, including air strikes against North Vietnam.