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Soldiers

Thai-Cambodian Border Tensions Escalate Over Landmine Incident

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A mother's worry turned into a worst-case scenario when her son, a Thai soldier, was injured in a landmine incident along the Thai-Cambodian border. The incident has sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of secretly planting landmines and Cambodia denying any involvement. The Royal Thai Army has revealed that a PMN-2 mine was used in the incident, the same type found in many areas where Cambodia has been accused of installing them to harm Thai troops.

Key Takeaways:

  • A Thai soldier was seriously injured when he stepped on a landmine near the Ta Muen Thom temple area in Surin province, Thailand.
  • The landmine was identified as a PMN-2 mine, the same type found in many areas where Cambodia has been accused of secretly planting them.
  • Cambodia has denied any involvement in the incident, but Thailand has produced evidence of the PMN-2 mine and accused Cambodia of violating the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
  • Thailand has called on Cambodia to cease its actions that violate the Convention and has urged the international community to take notice of the incident.
  • The Royal Thai Army has requested support for a large amount of concert wire, 100 cm in diameter, to be used in defending Thailand's sovereignty.
  • Lt. Gen. Mali Socheata, spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, stated that Cambodia has no landmines and has been a state party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention since 1999.
  • Thailand has produced evidence that contradicts Cambodia's claims, including the presence of newly installed PMN-2 mines at the incident site.
  • The Thai government has protested Cambodia's use of anti-personnel landmines, stating that it violates international law and the Ottawa Convention.

Statistics:

  • One Thai soldier was seriously injured when he stepped on a landmine near the Ta Muen Thom temple area in Surin province, Thailand.
  • The landmine was identified as a PMN-2 mine.
  • Three more mines were found at the incident site, all in "new condition" and ready for use.
  • The Royal Thai Army's than Krasae Facebook page posted a message stating that 13 landmines were found near the Chub Tamok base in the Ta Muen Thom temple area.
  • The PMN-2 mines were found within Thai sovereignty, about 2 meters to the left, about 2 meters to the right, and about 5 meters in front of the original mine.

Sources:

  • Thai News Agency
  • Ministry of Defense, Kingdom of Thailand
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand
  • Royal Thai Army's Than Krasae Facebook page
  • Royal Thai Army's 2nd Army Region Facebook page
  • Cambodian Ministry of Defense statement, August 13, 2025 (Thai News Agency)
  • Lt. Gen. Mali Socheata, spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand, statement, August 13, 2025 (Thai News Agency)

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