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San Francisco Chronicle
18 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Thailand warns it may act in 'self-defense' after soldier hurt by a mine blast near Cambodian border
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's army warned that it may have to 'exercise the right of self-defense' in response to continuing incidents it blames on Cambodia, in which Thai soldiers patrolling along the two countries' border have been wounded by land mines. A statement from Thai Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said a sergeant was patrolling the border with seven other soldiers Tuesday morning when he 'stepped on an anti-personnel landmine covertly planted by the Cambodian side, resulting in severe injuries to his left ankle.' The incident and the Thai reaction indicates the precariousness of the ceasefire that took effect on July 29 with the aim of ending five days of armed clashes over disputed territory along their border. The fighting killed dozens of people on both sides, including civilians, and displaced more than 260,000. Tuesday's land mine incident was the fourth of its kind in about a month, and the second since the ceasefire. It took place about 1 kilometer (a half-mile) from Ta Muen Thom temple, which Thailand claims is located in its Surin province. The area, which was the scene of heavy fighting in July, is one of several along the border that both countries claim as their own. In another disputed area Saturday, a Thai sergeant major suffered severe injuries, including losing his left foot, while two privates suffered lesser injuries. 'This incident serves as clear evidence that the Cambodian side has violated the ceasefire agreement and shows no respect for international humanitarian law, particularly the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use and placement of all types of anti-personnel landmines,' said the Thai army statement about the latest incident. Both countries are parties to the international agreement. The statement noted the multiple similar incidents and declared that Thailand 'has consistently adhered to peaceful approaches and has not been the initiating party.' 'However, should circumstances become compelling, it may be necessary to exercise the right of self-defense under international law principles to resolve situations that cause Thailand to continuously lose personnel due to violations of ceasefire agreements and sovereignty encroachments by Cambodian military forces,' it warned. Cambodia's Defense Ministry 'categorically and unequivocally rejects the baseless, false, and deliberately misleading allegations from the Thai side regarding the injuries of Thai soldiers,' said its spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata. 'Cambodia, as a proud and responsible State Party to the Ottawa Convention, maintains an absolute and uncompromising position: we have never used, produced, or deployed new landmines under any circumstances, and we strictly and fully honor our obligations under international law,' she said, echoing previous official denials. Ly Thuch, senior minister and first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, noted that Cambodia has cleared more than 1 million mines and nearly 3 million other pieces of unexploded ordnance left over from more than three decades of war and civil unrest that began in 1970, according to an interview with the Cambodian state news agency AKP.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thailand warns it may act in 'self-defense' after soldier hurt by a mine blast near Cambodian border
Thailand Cambodia BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's army warned that it may have to 'exercise the right of self-defense' in response to continuing incidents it blames on Cambodia, in which Thai soldiers patrolling along the two countries' border have been wounded by land mines. A statement from Thai Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said a sergeant was patrolling the border with seven other soldiers Tuesday morning when he 'stepped on an anti-personnel landmine covertly planted by the Cambodian side, resulting in severe injuries to his left ankle.' The incident and the Thai reaction indicates the precariousness of the ceasefire that took effect on July 29 with the aim of ending five days of armed clashes over disputed territory along their border. The fighting killed dozens of people on both sides, including civilians, and displaced more than 260,000. Tuesday's land mine incident was the fourth of its kind in about a month, and the second since the ceasefire. It took place about 1 kilometer (a half-mile) from Ta Muen Thom temple, which Thailand claims is located in its Surin province. The area, which was the scene of heavy fighting in July, is one of several along the border that both countries claim as their own. In another disputed area Saturday, a Thai sergeant major suffered severe injuries, including losing his left foot, while two privates suffered lesser injuries. 'This incident serves as clear evidence that the Cambodian side has violated the ceasefire agreement and shows no respect for international humanitarian law, particularly the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use and placement of all types of anti-personnel landmines,' said the Thai army statement about the latest incident. Both countries are parties to the international agreement. The statement noted the multiple similar incidents and declared that Thailand 'has consistently adhered to peaceful approaches and has not been the initiating party.' 'However, should circumstances become compelling, it may be necessary to exercise the right of self-defense under international law principles to resolve situations that cause Thailand to continuously lose personnel due to violations of ceasefire agreements and sovereignty encroachments by Cambodian military forces,' it warned. Cambodia's Defense Ministry 'categorically and unequivocally rejects the baseless, false, and deliberately misleading allegations from the Thai side regarding the injuries of Thai soldiers,' said its spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata. 'Cambodia, as a proud and responsible State Party to the Ottawa Convention, maintains an absolute and uncompromising position: we have never used, produced, or deployed new landmines under any circumstances, and we strictly and fully honor our obligations under international law,' she said, echoing previous official denials. Ly Thuch, senior minister and first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, noted that Cambodia has cleared more than 1 million mines and nearly 3 million other pieces of unexploded ordnance left over from more than three decades of war and civil unrest that began in 1970, according to an interview with the Cambodian state news agency AKP. Cambodia and Thailand have clashed in the past over their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border. Tensions had been growing since May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. Solve the daily Crossword
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pakistan launches new security operation against militants near Afghan border
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani security forces have launched a 'targeted operation' against militants in a restive northwestern district bordering Afghanistan, displacing tens of thousands of residents who have fled to safer areas, officials said Tuesday. There was no formal announcement of the launch of the offensive in Bajaur, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, but a government administrator, Saeed Ullah, said it was not a large-scale operation and only insurgent hideouts were being hit to avoid civilian casualties. Another government administrator, Shahhid Ali, said the number of displaced people had rapidly increased to nearly 100,000. Residents reported that security forces, backed by helicopters, struck militant hideouts in the mountainous areas along the Afghan border. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said the operation was ongoing. Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, are a separate group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan and have been living there openly since the Taliban takeover, and some have crossed the border back into Bajaur and carried out attacks.
