Phnom penh: Cambodia has not, and will not, plant new landmines, asserted Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), in a recent interview. As a State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention since 1999, Cambodia has focused on the clearance of landmines, with over one million landmines and nearly three million explosive remnants of war safely removed.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Thailand’s allegations that its soldiers were injured by newly laid mines are unsubstantiated. Dr. Ly Thuch emphasized that there is no credible evidence or transparent investigation confirming such claims. Cambodia stands by its obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty and firmly rejects any suggestion of non-compliance.

Dr. Ly Thuch described the allegations from Thailand as baseless, noting that public accusations without impartial verification are unhelpful and threaten the cooperative spirit established at the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee meeting. He urged the international community to consider Cambodia’s longstanding cooperation with the United Nations, ASEAN partners, and the international mine action community, which underscores the transparency and technical soundness of its mine clearance efforts.

Addressing concerns over potential unauthorized actions by Cambodian forces, Dr. Ly Thuch assured that the armed forces operate under strict command structures and adhere to agreements that maintain current troop deployments. He reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitments under the ceasefire agreement, which include holding current troop positions and ceasing patrols toward the other’s lines to prevent escalation.

To resolve ongoing tensions, Dr. Ly Thuch called for a fact-based, impartial investigation involving both countries and possibly international mine action experts. He emphasized Cambodia’s willingness to fully cooperate to establish the truth and prevent future incidents. Despite the gravity of the allegations, he refrained from accusing Thailand of lying, preferring to wait for the outcomes of an independent investigation.

In conclusion, Cambodia remains steadfast in its commitment to dialogue and technical cooperation with Thailand, ASEAN, and the global mine action community to uphold peace, protect civilians, and ensure the safety of the shared border.