The Thai Foreign Ministry has accused Cambodia of having no regard for the safety of Thai or Cambodian people through its repeated rejection of Thailand’s proposal, at last week’s Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting, for cooperation in mine clearance along their common border.
Nikorndej Balankura, the ministry's spokesman, said on Sunday that it is regrettable that, at the RBC meeting between the Chanthaburi-Trat border force and the third regional army of Cambodia, the Cambodian side said that cooperation in mine clearance effort should depend on the development of the ceasefire agreement and should initially be confined to the demarcated border area.
“This position clearly contradicts Cambodia’s claim that it places importance on mine clearance on humanitarian grounds. Instead, it is creating a condition to allow this dangerous weapon to continue to be used, which is a clear violation of the General Border Committee’s ceasefire agreement and demonstrates a complete disregard for the life and safety of the peoples of the two countries,” said Nikorndej.
He also referred to the statement made by Heng Rattana, head of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMMC), that the Cambodian PMN-2 anti-personnel landmines shown to visiting foreign envoys and media by the Thai Army on Saturday are harmless because their safety mechanisms have not been removed.
Nikorndej said the Thai army had already explained that those landmines were divided into mines found by Thai troops which have not been used and those which had been laid and retrieved.
Thai troops have also collected pieces of the landmines which were triggered, causing injuries to Thai soldiers at Phu Makua, he added.
He went on to say that the Thai Foreign Ministry will continue to urge Cambodia to demonstrate its commitment by cooperating with Thailand in mine clearance and will make similar call through the International Committee on Cooperative Compliance under the Ottawa Convention, which is due to meet this Friday.
