Cambodian Landmine Allegations Surface in Surin

Cambodian Soldier’s Phone Found in Laos Minesite Purportedly Shows Use of Landmines

While clearing landmines in Surin province on August 19, Thai forces found a mobile phone believed to belong to a Cambodian soldier, containing recent photos and videos of Cambodian troops handling PMN-2 landmines and tutorials on deploying them. The discovery adds weight to Thailand’s claims that Cambodia violated the Ottawa Treaty and other international conventions, although Phnom Penh dismisses the evidence as fabricated. Thailand plans to present the findings at an upcoming meeting of the Ottawa Framework Convention Committee, aiming to hold Cambodia accountable. Cambodia-based media countered that Thailand may have staged the materials, but the Thai RTA shared a photo identifying the phone's owner as a soldier previously stationed with Thai troops.