Latest news with #OttawaConventionagainstLandmines

First Post

Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating ceasefire, Thai army says soldiers injured in landmine blast

A Thai soldier was seriously injured by a landmine near the Cambodian border just days after both countries agreed to a fragile ceasefire Armoured personnel carriers are seen on a road near Thailand-Cambodia's border in Sisaket province, the day after the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a ceasefire in a bid to bring an end to their deadliest conflict in more than a decade and ahead of military negotiations. File image/ Reuters The Thai army said that a landmine near the Cambodian border on Tuesday wounded a Thai soldier, only days after the neighbours in Southeast Asia reached a truce after a deadly five-day clash last month. The soldier's left ankle suffered severe damage after he walked on a mine while patrolling a normal border route near Ta Moan Thom temple in Thailand's Surin province, according to an army statement. According to the report, the soldier is receiving treatment in a hospital. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Thai army spokesperson Major-General Winthai Suvaree, the event is convincing proof that Cambodia violated both the ceasefire and international accords such as the Ottawa Convention against Landmines. Cambodia continues to covertly plant landmines, while the Thai army has consistently adhered to peaceful approaches and has not been the initiating party, the statement said. 'Should circumstances become compelling, it may be necessary to exercise the right of self-defence 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,' the army said. Cambodia rejected the Thai charges. '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 honour our obligations under international law,' the defence ministry spokesperson said in a post on social media. It was the fourth time in a few weeks that Thai soldiers have been injured by mines during patrols along the border. On Saturday, three soldiers were injured by a landmine in an area between Thailand's Sisaket and Cambodia's Preah Vihear provinces. Two earlier incidents led to the downgrading of diplomatic relations and triggered the clashes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangkok has accused Cambodia of planting landmines on the Thai side of the disputed border that injured soldiers on July 16 and July 23. Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th-century Preah Vihear central to the disputes. The latest clashes that started on July 24 were the worst fighting between the countries in more than a decade, and involved exchanges of artillery fire and jet fighter sorties that killed at least 43 and left over 300,000 people displaced on both sides. The fragile ceasefire has been holding since Thailand and Cambodia agreed last week to allow observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to inspect disputed border areas, ensuring that hostilities do not resume.