On 12 October 2012, Mr. Damrong Kraikruan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman, gave a press interview denying the allegation by Cambodia that the Thai military had been planting land mines to prevent Cambodian civilians from illegally crossing the border to Thailand. Gist as follows:

                   1. On 9 October 2012, Radio Free Asia (Khmer) and the Phnom Penh Post newspaper reported, citing the Cambodian military sources, that the Thai military had been planting land mines to prevent Cambodian civilians and loggers from entering Thailand via the border of Sakeo and Battambang Provinces of Thailand and Cambodia. Subsequently, the Cambodian internet media further reported, quoting General Chhum Socheat, Spokesman of the Cambodian National Defense Ministry, and Mr. Koy Kuong, Spokesman of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, that the Thai Foreign Ministry had been unable to clarify the said issue.             2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has never been officially informed of the said allegation by the Cambodian side. Nevertheless, the Ministry maintained that the allegation is not only inaccurate but also groundless altogether. The Thai Government has a clear policy not to do any harm to all innocent civilians, thus, categorically denies such groundless accusation. The Foreign Ministry supported the earlier statement made to the Cambodian media by Colonel Direk Bongkarn, Defence Attache attached to the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh, that no such action had been carried out by the Thai military.

                   3. Thailand is a party to the Mine Ban Treaty and has played a very active role in support of the Treaty’s goals and, therefore, has no reason to compromise its standing recognized globally. More importantly, Thailand attaches great importance to the atmosphere of friendship and cordial relations with Cambodia and does not wish to engage in any tit-for-tat over allegations of insignificant nature and ones not based on facts.

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                                                                          12 October 2012