Latest news with #Sisaket
The Guardian
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Three Thai soldiers injured by landmine on border with Cambodia, army says
Three Thai soldiers were injured on Saturday after one tripped a landmine in territory along its frontier with Cambodia, Thailand's army has said as it accused the neighbouring country of planting concealed weapons in violation of international law. The incident, in which a Thai sergeant major suffered severe injuries, came two days after the countries reasserted their commitment to a ceasefire that ended a brief but intense period of fighting. Cambodia denies the accusation. The army's statement said the incident took place in Thailand's Sisaket province and 'clearly demonstrates to both domestic and international society that the use of concealed weapons in border areas continues to exist, constituting a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side'. The Ottawa Convention is an international treaty banning the use of landmines, signed by 164 countries, including Cambodia and Thailand. The incident on Saturday risks enflaming tensions, which remain high despite the fragile truce agreed on 29 July to end the armed conflict. Five days of fighting broke out last month after five Thai soldiers were wounded when one stepped on a mine in disputed territory. The clashes, which killed at least 43 people on either side of the border and displaced more than 260,000, amounted to the worst fighting between the neighbouring countries in more than a decade. Since the truce was agreed, both sides have accused the other of breaching it. Relations remain rocky while anger is being stirred online by a mix of disinformation, threats and nationalism. Two days after the two sides met in Malaysia to sign a 13-point agreement on implementing their ceasefire, the Thai army's statement said that Saturday's incident constituted 'a significant obstacle to the implementation of ceasefire measures and peaceful resolution of problems'. Cambodia strongly denies laying new concealed weapons. 'We have not, and will not, plant new landmines,' the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority said in a statement. It said Cambodia had cleared more than 1m mines and nearly 3m other unexploded weapons dating back to a period of war and civil unrest that began in 1970 and lasted more than three decades. The Thai sergeant major lost his left foot in Saturday's incident, according to the Thai army statement, while two privates suffered less serious injuries. Associated Press contributed to this report
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Three Thai soldiers injured by landmine on Cambodian border
Three Thai soldiers have been wounded after one stepped on a landmine in territory along the border with Cambodia, the Thai army announced on Saturday. The incident comes just days after the two countries agreed to extend the ceasefire that ended a brief armed conflict, which were their deadliest clashes in decades. One soldier suffered a severe leg injury, another was wounded in the back and arm, and the third experienced extreme pressure damage to the ear during the incident in northeastern Thailand's Sisaket province. "It clearly demonstrates to both domestic and international society that the use of concealed weapons in border areas continues to exist, constituting a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side," the army's statement said. How have Thailand and Cambodia reacted? After Saturday's blast, the Thai army statement, citing its spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree, said that Saturday's mine explosion constituted "a significant obstacle to the implementation of ceasefire measures and peaceful resolution of problems." The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, a government body, issued a statement denying that any new mines had been laid. "We have not, and will not, plant new land mines," said the statement, noting that Cambodia is a party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty Convention, "and has an internationally recognized record of removing, not deploying, these indiscriminate weapons." It 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. What happened during the recent Thai-Cambodia conflict? A five-day conflict between Thailand and Cambodia killed at least 43 people in a flare-up of a long-running dispute over ancient border temples. The clashes, involving jets, artillery, rockets and infantry battles, ended on July 29 with a ceasefire, after cajoling by US President Donald Trump. A meeting of defense officials in Kuala Lumpur finished on Thursday with a deal to extend the ceasefire. Tensions had simmered since May this year when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead by Thai troops in a brief fracas in another contested border area. The escalating dispute was marked by border crossing restrictions and cross-border boycotts along with bans of goods and services before fighting broke out. What is the Ottawa Convention? The Ottawa Convention, also called the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, is an international agreement banning the weapons' use, and both Thailand and Cambodia have committed to it. A statement from Thailand's foreign ministry said the incident confirmed the Thai army's findings "that new land mines are being laid in blatant violation of international law." It also noted this was the third such incident in less than a month. Cambodia had suggested that two earlier explosions last month wounding Thai soldiers might be land mines from past conflicts. Edited by: Wesley Dockery
RNZ News
09-08-2025
- RNZ News
Thai soldiers injured by landmine near Cambodia amid fragile ceasefire
By Reuters Royal Thai Army soldiers are pictured on armoured vehicles on a road in Chachoengsao province on 24 July, 2025. Photo: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA / AFP Three Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine while patrolling the border with Cambodia, the Thai army said in a statement. It comes just days after the two neighbours agreed to a detailed ceasefire following a violent five-day conflict last month. One soldier lost a foot and two others were injured after one of them stepped on a landmine as they patrolled an area between Thailand's Sisaket and Cambodia's Preah Vihear provinces on Saturday morning (US Time), the Thai army said. The soldiers are being treated at a hospital, the army said. Cambodia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident is the third time in a few weeks that Thai soldiers have been injured by mines while patrolling along the border. Two previous similar incidents led to the downgrading of diplomatic relations and triggered five days of violent clashes. The Southeast Asian neighbours were engaged in deadly border clashes from July 24-28, in the worst fighting between the two in more than a decade. The exchanges of artillery fire and jet fighter sorties claimed at least 43 lives and left over 300,000 people displaced on both sides. A fragile ceasefire has been holding since Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday (US Time) to allow observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to inspect disputed border areas to ensure hostilities do not resume. Bangkok accused Cambodia of planting landmines on the Thai side of the disputed border that injured soldiers on July 16 and July 23. Phnom Penh denied it had placed any new mines and said the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered old landmines left from its decades of war. - Reuters
The Guardian
09-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Three Thai soldiers injured by landmine on border with Cambodia, army says
Three Thai soldiers were injured on Saturday after one tripped a landmine in territory along its frontier with Cambodia, Thailand's army has said as it accused the neighbouring country of planting concealed weapons in violation of international law. The incident, in which a Thai sergeant major suffered severe injuries, came two days after the countries reasserted their commitment to a ceasefire that ended a brief but intense period of fighting. Cambodia denies the accusation. The army's statement said the incident took place in Thailand's Sisaket province and 'clearly demonstrates to both domestic and international society that the use of concealed weapons in border areas continues to exist, constituting a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side'. The Ottawa Convention is an international treaty banning the use of landmines, signed by 164 countries, including Cambodia and Thailand. The incident on Saturday risks enflaming tensions, which remain high despite the fragile truce agreed on 29 July to end the armed conflict. Five days of fighting broke out last month after five Thai soldiers were wounded when one stepped on a mine in disputed territory. The clashes, which killed at least 43 people on either side of the border and displaced more than 260,000, amounted to the worst fighting between the neighbouring countries in more than a decade. Since the truce was agreed, both sides have accused the other of breaching it. Relations remain rocky while anger is being stirred online by a mix of disinformation, threats and nationalism. Two days after the two sides met in Malaysia to sign a 13-point agreement on implementing their ceasefire, the Thai army's statement said that Saturday's incident constituted 'a significant obstacle to the implementation of ceasefire measures and peaceful resolution of problems'. Cambodia strongly denies laying new concealed weapons. 'We have not, and will not, plant new landmines,' the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority said in a statement. It said that Cambodia has cleared more than 1m mines and nearly 3m other unexploded weapons dating back to a period of war and civil unrest that began in 1970 and lasted more than three decades. A Thai sergeant major suffered severe injuries, including losing his left foot in Saturday's incident, according to the Thai army statement, while two privates suffered less serious injuries. Associated Press
CTV News
09-08-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Thailand again accuses Cambodia of planting land mines as 3 soldiers are hurt by blast along border
A bust of Buddha among remains charred inside a bombed building in O'Smach, Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Anton L. Delgado) BANGKOK — Three Thai soldiers on patrol were wounded Saturday when one stepped on a land mine in territory along the border with Cambodia, Thailand's army announced. The incident came just two days after the two countries reaffirmed their adherence to a ceasefire to end a brief armed conflict. The army's statement said the incident took place in Thailand's Sisaket province and 'clearly demonstrates to both domestic and international society that the use of concealed weapons in border areas continues to exist, constituting a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side.' The Ottawa Convention, also called the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, is an international agreement banning the weapons' use, and both Thailand and Cambodia have committed to it. A statement from Thailand's foreign ministry said the incident confirmed the Thai army's findings 'that new land mines are being laid in blatant violation of international law.' It also noted this was the third such incident in less than a month. Five days of armed conflict broke out last month, killing dozens of people on both sides, including civilians, and displacing more than 260,000. The fighting broke out a day after five Thai soldiers were wounded when one tripped an antipersonnel mine in disputed territory. A ceasefire that took effect on July 29 ended major fighting, though tension remained high. The two countries on Thursday at a meeting in Malaysia committed to a 13-point agreement on implementing their truce. The Thai army statement, citing its spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree, charged that Saturday's mine explosion constituted 'a significant obstacle to the implementation of ceasefire measures and peaceful resolution of problems.' A statement issued in response by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority denied Thailand's allegation that Cambodia had laid new mines. 'We have not, and will not, plant new land mines,' said the statement, noting that Cambodia is a party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty Convention, 'and has an internationally recognized record of removing, not deploying, these indiscriminate weapons.' It noted that Cambodia has cleared more than one million mines and nearly three million other pieces of unexploded ordnance left over from more than three decades of war and civil unrest that began in 1970. Cambodia had suggested that two earlier explosions last month wounding Thai soldiers might be land mines from past conflicts. Tensions had simmered since May this year when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead by Thai troops in a brief fracas in another contested border area. The escalating dispute was marked by border crossing restrictions and cross-border boycotts and bans of goods and services before fighting broke out. In Saturday's incident, a Thai sergeant major suffered severe injuries, including losing his left foot, said the Thai army statement, while two privates suffered lesser injuries. The Associated Press
