Phnom penh: The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has firmly rejected allegations made by the Thai Foreign Minister in an article published by Nikkei Asia on December 1, 2025. The article claims that Cambodia has recently laid landmines along the border, prompting calls for action under Article 8 of the Ottawa Convention. In a press release issued this morning, the CMAA described these allegations as “baseless, unilateral, and entirely contrary to all verified facts.”
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Cambodia has clarified its position on several points. First and foremost, the CMAA reaffirmed that Cambodia has not laid anti-personnel mines since joining the Ottawa Convention, adhering to both national and international obligations. The country has maintained a commitment to transparency and cooperation in mine-action efforts for over thirty years.
The press release further explained that the mine contamination along the Thai-Cambodian border is a historical issue, resulting from conflicts in the 1970s to 1990s involving multiple armed actors. Cambodia criticized Thailand for conducting demining activities unilaterally, without coordination or transparency, which undermines joint efforts and contradicts the humanitarian spirit of the Ottawa Convention.
Cambodia also highlighted its achievements in mine clearance, having cleared over 3,000 km² of contaminated land and destroyed millions of landmines and explosive remnants. The CMAA emphasized that Cambodia has consistently supported demining efforts and has never obstructed humanitarian initiatives by neighboring countries.
Furthermore, the CMAA expressed concern that unverified claims are being used to drive political narratives, risking regional trust and undermining progress. The authority stressed that mine action should remain a humanitarian endeavor, not a tool for political escalation, and urged for evidence-based assessments.
Finally, the CMAA accused Thailand of using landmine incidents to discredit Cambodia’s achievements and as a pretext for territorial claims. Cambodia called for professionalism and neutrality, urging all parties to support technical evidence and joint cooperation rather than unilateral accusations.
Cambodia reiterated its commitment to peace, stability, and strict compliance with the Ottawa Convention, urging all partners to respect existing mechanisms and promote cooperation through dialogue.