Summary of Press Briefing on the Thai - Cambodia Border Situation

by the Minister of Foreign Affairs

On 18 August 2025 at 16:00 hrs.

MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB LIVE / Tik Tok LIVE

1. Field Visit to Observe Situations Regarding Anti-Personnel Landmines on the Thai - Cambodian Border at Si Sa Ket Province

• On 16 August 2025, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with H.E. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Foreign Minister, and representatives from the Royal Thai Army and the Ministry of Interior, led a delegation of diplomatic corps from ASEAN Member States, States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, representatives from international organizations, as well as civil society organizations engaged in mine clearance to Si Sa Ket Province to observe the site of landmine incidents, with mines planted by Cambodian forces on Thai territory. In total, 36 participants from 33 countries, 1 organization, and 2 international organizations, along with members of both Thai and foreign media, attended this field visit, which followed the briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 August 2025.
• The delegation received a briefing from the Foreign Minister, the Vice Minister for Interior, the Governor of Si Sa Ket Province, and representatives from the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Army. The delegation was informed of the facts and chronology of incidents in which Thai soldiers were injured by landmines planted by Cambodia within Thai territory. They also observed demining operations carried out by the Humanitarian Mine Action Unit and military personnel in Phu Makhua, Si Sa Ket Province. The visit allowed the delegation to observe evidence of the placement of anti-personnel landmines by Cambodian forces on Thai soil. Delegates also received on-the-ground briefings and were presented with tangible evidence, including newly planted landmines that had caused injuries and disabilities to Thai soldiers as well as impacted local communities and civilians in the long term.
• In addition, the delegation also had a chance to observe civilian homes in Kantharalak District, Si Sa Ket Province, which suffered extensive damage due to indiscriminate attacks by Cambodian forces. The delegation was briefed on the assistance provided to affected communities by government agencies and relevant entities.
• The field visit demonstrates that Cambodia planted landmines within Thai territory – an act that constitutes a violation of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, international law, and international humanitarian law, including obligations under the Ottawa Convention, to which both Thailand and Cambodia are States Parties. This act violates the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which obliges both countries to cease the use of all types of weapons, including anti-personnel landmines. It also aimed to call upon the international community to reconsider the assistance currently being provided to Cambodia for demining operations and to pressure Cambodia to fulfill its obligations as a responsible State Party to the Ottawa Convention.

2. Thailand’s actions in response to Cambodia’s use of anti-personnel mines

2.1 Under the Ottawa Convention

• In addition to formally lodging protests directly with Cambodia and sending official communications to Malaysia in its capacity as ASEAN Chair regarding Cambodia’s violations of the ceasefire agreement through the use of landmines, within the multilateral fora, Thai Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in both Geneva and New York have been actively advancing efforts under the framework of the Ottawa Convention since the onset of the incidents. These efforts have now been further intensified.
• Thailand has initiated formal proceedings under the framework of the Ottawa Convention in advance of the Meeting of States Parties scheduled for December This is intended to clearly highlight Cambodia’s violations of the Convention and to exert pressure on Cambodia to fulfill its obligations through the Committee on Cooperative Compliance.
• Most recently, on 30 July 2025, the Permanent Representative in Geneva attended a meeting to present the facts and details concerning Cambodia’s violations of the Ottawa Convention to the Committee on Cooperative Compliance. She will again participate in the next meeting of the Committee scheduled for 22 August 2025, to present additional facts and evidence related to these incidents.
• This Committee under the Ottawa Convention allows affected States Parties, such as Thailand, to bring cases of violations for its consideration. This process aims to exert pressure on the violating State Party, Cambodia in this case, to provide an explanation and take corrective action.

2.2 In the bilateral framework

• Thailand has expressed its deep disappointment over Cambodia’s rejection of Thailand’s proposal for joint demining efforts during the Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting held on 16 August 2025, as well as in the Press Conference this morning (18 August 2025) by the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), which cited various pretexts. This position is inconsistent with Cambodia’s stated commitment to humanitarian mine clearance. Instead of cooperating, Cambodia continues to impose conditions and allows such deadly weapons to remain and to be used. This constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the ceasefire agreement and reflects a disregard for the lives and safety of civilians of both countries.
• In addition, misleading information was presented by the Director of Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) himself, creating confusion regarding the display of landmines to the diplomatic delegation during the field visit this past Saturday. In fact, Thailand showed landmines which had been recovered, including undeployed mines, those already planted and defused, as well as fragments of landmines that have already maimed Thai soldiers—all of which were retrieved from the Phu Makhua area, at positions previously occupied by Cambodia. The presentation was complete, factual, and entirely free from distortion or staging.
• Cambodia’s stated position on this issue demonstrates a stark contradiction between its rhetoric, well-accepted principles, and actual practice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to urge Cambodia to cooperate with Thailand in demining in a genuine and sincere manner, while also pursuing the matter in the international fora, or by facilitating further visits by diplomats to verify the facts and evidence firsthand.

3. Field visit by the Interim Observer Team (IOT)

• From today (18 August 2025) to 20 August 2025, the Royal Thai Armed Forces are organizing a field visit to the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket and Surin for the Interim Observer Team (IOT) – a mechanism established by the decision of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting on 7 August 2025. The IOT delegation comprises defense attachés from eight countries, namely Malaysia, Brunei, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
• The delegation will visit the operations center of the 2nd Army Area to observe activities on the ground and to gather first-hand information regarding Cambodia’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, as well as its obstruction of demining operations of the Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC). They will also conduct on-site inspections in areas where Thai soldiers were injured by landmines and locations where civilians were attacked by Cambodian forces.
• This field visit will allow the IOT to witness verifiable and un-staged evidence firsthand, which will enable them to convey the truth on the violations of international law and the ceasefire agreement by Cambodia to the international community. This will also help counter persistent disinformation and fabricated narratives being disseminated by the Cambodian side.

4. Field visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

• On 11 and 14 August, the Royal Thai Army, in coordination with the Ministry and the Ministry of Interior, facilitated a field visit by officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to assess the damage and impact on local population resulting from armed clashes along the Thai - Cambodian border, particularly due to indiscriminate attacks by Cambodian forces. The ICRC delegation also had a chance to interview the affected residents in the provinces of Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani.
• This visit marked the second field mission by the ICRC, following its first visit on 5 August 2025 to inspect the conditions of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war being held at a detention facility under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Army Area.
• The ICRC’s visit serves as a testament to Thailand’s consistent and constructive cooperation with international organizations. It also reflects transparency and accountability in Thailand’s conduct, which is firmly grounded in international law, particularly international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as relevant international standards and practices.
• In addition, earlier this morning (18 August 2025), the Ministry together with the Thai Red Cross Society co-organized the 11th “Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn” Lecture on International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This year, Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the ICRC, delivered a lecture on the topic “Upholding Humanity in Contemporary Warfare.”
• The Lecture, held every two years since 2003, aims to disseminate knowledge on IHL, an issue that is of high public interest, especially under current circumstances. For Thailand, this is a matter of utmost importance, as the country is currently suffering severe consequences from violations of international humanitarian law.

• Thailand remains committed to peacefully resolving differences with Cambodia through existing bilateral mechanisms. Thailand hopes that the upcoming meetings under the RBC, GBC, and JBC frameworks will help de-escalate current tensions and lay the groundwork for long-term resolution.
• During this time in which Cambodia is staging incidents, disseminating false information, and using individuals with fraudulent credentials, the public and media are encouraged to exercise discretion in consuming news and information. This is essential to prevent misunderstanding and to foster an environment conducive to a peaceful resolution.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19LwxLkijR/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

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