Pictures courtesy of Khaosod 

 

The Royal Thai Navy has announced it has uncovered clear evidence indicating that Cambodia has violated the Ottawa Convention and international humanitarian law after discovering a stockpile of anti-personnel landmines and related training documents. The findings have heightened concerns over security and civilian safety along the Thai–Cambodian border.

 

Rear Admiral Parat Rattanachaiyaphan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, said on 18 December 2568 that the evidence was found after the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defence Command regained control of an area near Ban Nong Ree. The location had previously been used as a Cambodian military base before being retaken by Thai forces.

 

During a clearance operation, Thai personnel discovered a storage site containing 16 ready-to-use anti-personnel landmines. The devices had been modified from anti-tank mines and were assessed as capable of causing indiscriminate harm, posing a serious threat to both military personnel and civilians in the surrounding area. Further inspections were conducted at the Pluk Drum Rey base, also known as Ban Sam Lang. There, Thai authorities seized Cambodian military documents that included handwritten training notes on the use of PMN-2 anti-personnel landmines.

 

The documents reportedly detailed the general characteristics of the PMN-2 mines, methods of deployment, and procedures for removal. They also specified that training on the use of such mines had taken place on 7 October 2567, indicating organised and systematic instruction rather than isolated or accidental use. According to the Navy, the presence of both the landmines and the training materials demonstrates a clear intent by Cambodian forces to employ anti-personnel landmines against Thailand. Officials stated that this constituted a deliberate form of landmine warfare and a serious breach of international humanitarian principles.

 

The Royal Thai Navy emphasised that Cambodia’s actions violate several international obligations. These include the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, production, and possession of anti-personnel landmines, as well as Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which requires distinction between military targets and civilians and bans weapons that cannot limit their effects to military objectives.

 

Rear Admiral Parat said the use, possession and modification of PMN-2 anti-personnel mines reflects a disregard for fundamental humanitarian principles. He added that the Navy strongly condemns Cambodia’s actions and called on Cambodian authorities to immediately cease any activities that violate international law.

 

Khoasod reported that Thai authorities also urged Cambodia to take responsibility for the consequences affecting public safety and stability along the border. The Royal Thai Navy reaffirmed that Thailand will continue to protect its sovereignty, national security, and the safety of its people strictly within the framework of international law and humanitarian principles.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thai authorities say they found 16 modified anti-personnel landmines at a former Cambodian base.

• Training documents on PMN-2 landmines dated 7 October 2567 were also seized.

• The Royal Thai Navy says the findings show violations of the Ottawa Convention and international humanitarian law.

 

Related stories

 

Trump’s-‘roadside-accident’-remark-on-landmines-sparks-anger

 

Thailand-to-raise-landmine-dispute-with-cambodia-at-Geneva-meet

 

 

 Adapted  by  Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-12-19

 

 

What luck finding this treasure trove of evidence which justifies continuing the war.....

The generals mia-noys have never been happier....Big Joop Joop to all the taxpayers...

And of course Thailand never violates any international laws, does it?

 

Deporting refugees who have been given refugee status by the UN, and have been provided with a country of resettlement, is not breaking international humanitarian laws, is it Thailand?

 

Discrimination against ethnic minority groups in Thailand does not violate international laws, does it Thailand?

 

Thailand's international status takes another hit.

Cambodia should look for some backing from USA.

US never signed treaty banning landmines

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

What luck finding this treasure trove of evidence which justifies continuing the war.....

The generals mia-noys have never been happier....Big Joop Joop to all the taxpayers...

The propaganda is full on now, watch this space.

Are Cambodia & Thailand signed up for this treaty? I know of 2 huge countries that aren't 

"Retaken"  ???

So this land has then first been "taken" by cambodia.

Thailand never say when "thai soil is taken" by cambodia.

So-was it ladt week -or maybe 150 years ago ?

Please clarify.......

For you thumbs down folks....

I got news for you....It's been a very long time since a war was a straight-up honest afair of a country defending itself...

 

They call it Theater of War for a reason...

 

And this petty, lame squabble here is a strong candidate for inclusion in the one-star theater list..  

UPDATE
Border Clashes Leaves Cambodian Bodies Unclaimed as Tensions Persist

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin

 

Thai military sources say Cambodian authorities have declined to receive the bodies of their own soldiers killed during recent border clashes, forcing Thai officials to take public health measures and temporarily store remains at a provincial hospital under humanitarian principles.

 

The immediate impact has been foul odours along parts of the Thai–Cambodian border and additional disease prevention measures, while fighting between troops from both sides has continued across several provinces.

 

The incident follows armed confrontations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers that began on 8 December and have continued for 12 days up to 19 December 2025, according to sources from Thailand’s Second Army Region. The clashes have taken place in border areas spanning four Thai provinces, resulting in injuries and fatalities on both sides. Thai officials confirmed that the bodies of Thai soldiers killed in the fighting have been recovered and returned for religious funeral rites.

 

By contrast, Cambodian soldiers who died inside Thai sovereign territory were collected by Thai troops, who then coordinated with Cambodian counterparts to arrange repatriation. Cambodian authorities reportedly refused to accept the bodies, leading to decomposing remains along parts of the border and strong odours affecting the area.

 

Thai sources said a similar situation occurred during an earlier round of clashes in July, when Cambodian authorities also declined to receive their fallen soldiers and stated the bodies were not Cambodian troops. At that time, Thai forces spread lime around the affected areas to reduce health risks and unpleasant smells, a measure that has again been applied to prevent the spread of disease.

 

The situation has also involved Thailand’s Border Coordination Unit in Trat province, under the Thai–Cambodian Border Defence Command for Chanthaburi and Trat (กปจ.ชต.). The unit is responsible for coordinating and monitoring border security issues and liaising with Cambodian agencies in accordance with humanitarian principles and established rules.

 

Officials cited a specific clash near Ban Sam Lang and Ban Nong Ree in Chamrak subdistrict, Mueang district, Trat province, where Cambodian soldiers were killed. The Trat Marine Task Force collected body parts from the clash site and prepared them for return to Cambodia.

 

While awaiting formal coordination with Cambodian authorities to repatriate the remains, Thai officials requested assistance from Trat Hospital to temporarily receive and safeguard the body parts. Thai authorities said this step was taken strictly on humanitarian grounds while diplomatic and military coordination continues.

 

Amarin reported that Thai military and border coordination units are expected to continue efforts to repatriate the bodies in line with humanitarian norms, while monitoring the security situation along the border. Further developments depend on coordination between both governments and the evolution of the fighting on the ground.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Cambodian authorities have declined to receive the bodies of their soldiers killed in clashes inside Thai territory.

• Thai officials have applied lime to affected areas and temporarily stored remains at Hospitals to prevent health risks.

• Border clashes have continued for 12 days across multiple provinces, causing casualties on both sides.

 

 Adapted  by  Asean Now from Amarin 2025-12-19

 

If the Cambodian government is saying the bodies are Thai then cremate then and place the ashes in urns with the dog tags so family can claim them later.