Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating ceasefire by planting landmines
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Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating a ceasefire and international law by planting landmines in Surin province.
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In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), a high-level diplomatic mission led by Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, visits the border where the Thai military has laid barbed wire and placed tires to seize Cambodian homes and farmland, in O'Bei Choan Commune, Banteay Meanchey Province near the Cambodia-Thailand border, on August 22, 2025. (AKP via AP)
The Thai Foreign Ministry has accused Cambodia of continuing to plant landmines inside Thai territory, in breach of both international law and the ceasefire agreement reached only a few weeks ago.
According to Thai officials, Cambodian troops were detected west of Hill 350 in Surin province on Friday. Thai forces engaged the group with gunfire, forcing them to withdraw. After securing the area, soldiers discovered three PMN-2 landmines, which Bangkok says provide clear evidence of Cambodia’s violation of Thai sovereignty and the Ottawa Treaty.
"This incident clearly demonstrates another violation by the Cambodian side of Thailand’s sovereignty, its obligations under the Ottawa Convention, and the provisions of the ceasefire agreement," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura in a written statement.
Evidence of the alleged breach has been shared with international observers.
A long-standing border dispute
The Thai-Cambodian border conflict stems from centuries-old disputes over an 800-kilometer frontier dotted with ancient temples, including Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom. While tensions have flared periodically, the current escalation represents the deadliest confrontation between the two neighbors in more than a decade.
In late May, clashes left a Cambodian soldier dead, triggering a cycle of military and political crises. The situation worsened in June when Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended after a leaked conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
July witnessed some of the heaviest fighting, with Cambodian forces accused of initiating cross-border attacks using small arms and heavy weapons. Thailand responded with artillery and airstrikes, prompting Cambodia to allege the use of cluster munitions. The fighting left at least 38 to 43 people dead and displaced more than 300,000 civilians.
International pressure mounted, with US President Donald Trump threatening trade penalties unless both sides halted hostilities. Mediation by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, supported by the US and China, led to a ceasefire declaration on July 28.
Persistent tensions
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. Thai forces captured 20 Cambodian soldiers on July 29, accusing them of violating the truce, while Cambodia insisted they were approaching peacefully. Eighteen remain in Thai custody.
Meanwhile, a series of landmine explosions since late July has injured multiple Thai soldiers, fueling Bangkok’s accusations that Cambodia is continuing to mine border areas. The Thai Foreign Ministry has issued multiple protest letters, calling the practice "an outright breach of international law."
ASEAN monitors are now deployed along the border, but with recurring skirmishes and ongoing political instability in Bangkok, the fragile peace remains under severe strain.
