A landmine explosion that injured Thai soldiers and sparked five days of border clashes with Cambodia in July is believed by experts to have been caused by “newly planted” anti-personnel mines, raising serious questions about both nations’ adherence to international treaties banning such weapons.
The explosion involved PMN-2 mines, a Soviet-era type. Both Thailand and Cambodia are signatories to the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty prohibiting the use and possession of such anti-personnel devices.
Thailand has accused Cambodia of planting the mines along the border. Thai officials report that at least six Thai soldiers have been injured by PMN-2s since July.
Cambodia has denied these allegations. It claims Thai soldiers instead stepped on older mines, which were buried during decades of civil war.
Reuters submitted photographs and videos of PMN-2 mine recovery operations by Thai soldiers to four independent landmine experts for review. All four specialists concluded the images showed “newly planted” PMN-2 mines.
Andrew Weir Smith, a UK-based independent expert, noted that the condition of the mines suggested they had been in the ground for no more than a few months. He explained that older PMN-2s would show signs of brittle plastic casings, faded rubber, and accumulated dirt, none of which were visible in the observed mines.
Yehusua Moser-Puangsuwan from Landmine Monitor also stated that the mines were not covered by roots and vegetation, a condition expected if they had been buried for a long period.
A spokesperson for Thailand’s Foreign Ministry affirmed that their investigation also determined the mines that injured Thai soldiers were newly planted PMN-2s. Thailand maintains it has never used PMN-2 mines.
The initial explosion on July 16 led to a five-day armed conflict. This necessitated a ceasefire negotiated with U.S. mediation.
Cambodia’s Mine Action Authority (CMAA) contested the experts’ findings, arguing that a mine’s exact age cannot be definitively concluded from its external appearance alone. Ly Thuch, Vice President of CMAA, stated that environmental factors like soil erosion or flooding could make long-buried mines appear new.
Cambodia has long presented itself as a global advocate against landmine use. The nation has invested over $1 billion USD in mine clearance operations over the past 30 years. The use of PMN-2 mines, which have caused tens of thousands of casualties since 1979, would contradict Cambodia’s stated commitments.
Thailand is now pursuing diplomatic channels through the Ottawa Convention. It has asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urge Cambodia to respond to allegations of treaty violations.
Cambodia has clarified that its military does not maintain any live stockpiles of anti-personnel mines. It has expressed readiness for an impartial, third-party investigation into the matter.