Latest news with #Thai-Cambodian
The Star
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thai Cabinet allows overstayed Cambodian workers to remain for six more months
BANGKOK: The Cabinet on Tuesday (July 22) approved a decision to allow around 47,000 Cambodian workers in seven border provinces, who have overstayed their permits due to the Thai-Cambodian border tensions, to continue working in Thailand for an additional six months. Extension for Cambodian workers in border provinces Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced that the Cabinet had approved the Labour Ministry's proposal to extend the stay of Cambodian workers with border passes in the seven border provinces by six months, retroactively starting from June 7. The Labour Ministry explained to the Cabinet that reduced operating hours at Thai-Cambodian border crossings, following the border skirmish near Chong Bok, affected 47,348 Cambodian workers as of the end of June. These workers, who entered Thailand on border passes, have overstayed their permitted duration. Impact of border skirmish on Cambodian workers The Labour Ministry further informed the Cabinet that some of these workers would see their work permits expire by the end of September. As a result, the Cabinet agreed to extend their stay under an executive decree on foreign worker management. The six-month extension period will be counted from June 7, marking the start of the Thai army's enforcement of stricter border crossing measures that limited operational hours at the border crossings, causing inconvenience for Cambodian workers seeking to return home and extend their stay. Exemption from overstay fines The Cabinet also decided to waive fines for Cambodian workers who have overstayed their permitted stay during the six-month period starting from June 7. Application for work permits and health insurance Cambodian workers can apply for a work permit either in person at employment offices or through the Labour Ministry's online service. The application fee is 100 baht, with an additional 225 baht fee for the work permit. The Cabinet also mandated that Cambodian workers who are not part of the social security scheme must apply for health insurance with the Public Health Ministry before their work permit can be approved or extended. Health insurance will be granted in three-month periods. - The Nation/ANN
The Star
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thailand Mine Action Centre files complaint against Cambodia over border mine dispute
BANGKOK: The Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) on Tuesday (July 22) reported progress in the investigation regarding an incident on July 16, 2025, where Thai soldiers stepped on a landmine near the Thai-Cambodian border. TMAC has also addressed false information being spread by Cambodian sources. TMAC issued its first statement to clarify key facts, stating that the landmine found in the area, which lies within Thai sovereignty, was not in use by the Thai military. It was confirmed to be a newly laid anti-personnel mine. TMAC has focused on extending its outreach via media channels including its official Facebook page and website, with news outlets continuing to report on and expand coverage of the issue. The Centre has also sent its statement to ten international organisations and partners involved in humanitarian demining, including several ambassadors to Thailand, Humanitarian Demining Research and Development, US Department of Defence, US Marine Corps Forces/Pacific, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Joint United States Military Advisory Group Thailand, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, Asean Regional Mine Action Centre and the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva. This outreach aims to raise awareness and ensure accurate understanding of the situation. In its second statement, TMAC responded to claims from Cambodia accusing Thai soldiers of planting additional landmines in the incident area. The Cambodian side had shared photos and videos through social media and news outlets, which TMAC strongly refuted. - The Nation/ANN
Bangkok Post
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Cambodia 'laying mines'
The government will submit a formal written protest to the President of the Ottawa Convention following a recent landmine explosion near the Thai-Cambodian border that left three Thai soldiers severely injured. The incident, involving newly planted anti-personnel mines, has been condemned as a violation of international law and Thai sovereignty. The army found two more new anti-personnel mines on Thai soil near the border with Cambodia on Sunday, where three Thai soldiers were injured by an exploding landmine last week. Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said on Monday that a patrol from the Suranaree Task Force found the two landmines near Chong Bok in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani. One of the mines was only about 30 centimetres from the spot where three soldiers were injured by the explosion of a Russian-made PMN-2 anti-personnel mine on Wednesday, the spokesman said. One of the soldiers lost a foot. The mines were safely defused and removed, he said. Maj Gen Winthai said the army also urged Asean and the international community to condemn Cambodia over the matter. Rear Admiral Surasans Kongsi, Defence Ministry spokesman, and Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, jointly addressed the press following a Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Command Centre (TCBC) meeting at Government House. Rear Adm Surasans confirmed that PMN-2 mines were not part of Thailand's arsenal, and signs of recent digging suggest the discovered mines were placed after the May 28 border clash, he said. Thai authorities have concluded that the placement was deliberate, intended to kill personnel and in clear violation of the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention that Cambodia and Thailand both signed in 1997 and ratified in 1998. In response, the Thai military has heightened its security protocols, issuing new directives to local patrol units and enhancing readiness, he said. The Defence Ministry will also brief military attachés and representatives from foreign armed forces to present the facts. Ms Maratee said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry will formally protest to the Cambodian government in writing and report the incident to the President of the Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention -- currently held by Japan -- to seek accountability under the treaty framework. Furthermore, Thailand will provide briefings to key international partners and relevant organisations, especially countries with a stake in Cambodian demining efforts, such as Japan and Norway. These briefings will aim to raise awareness of the breach and reaffirm Thailand's position. She said the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Sunday accused and condemned Cambodia for the use of anti-personnel mines in contravention of the Ottawa Convention banning their use. "The Royal Thai Government condemns in the strongest terms the use of anti-personnel mines," the ministry statement said. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, acting as prime minister, said inspections have clearly confirmed that the landmines were newly manufactured and recently planted; therefore, Thailand views this as a violation of United Nations agreements. "If further evidence is identified, it may even lead to the recall of the [Thai] chargé d'affaires [in Cambodia]. This will depend on the conditions and the evolving situation," he said. Cambodia has denied laying new mines that injured the three soldiers. However, the ministry said it had clear evidence. Thailand had never used the type of landmine that was found. "Assessments and related evidence discovered by the responsible security agencies point to the conclusion that the laying of these mines was a blatant violation of international law," it said. Regarding the sensitive situation at the Ta Muen Thom Temple in Surin, a popular tourist site near the Thai-Cambodian border, the national police chief will implement immediate measures aimed at preventing escalation. "In the event of an incident, calling in the police would normally take too long," Mr Phumtham explained. "Therefore, we are pre-positioning crowd control units to respond to Cambodian civilians in accordance with international norms."
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Landmine clearing starts near Cambodian border
Combat engineers started mine-clearing operations in the Chong Bok area near the Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province on Sunday after a landmine explosion injured three Thai soldiers there on July 16. The Second Army Region that supervises the Northeast said on Sunday that combat engineers from the Suranaree Task Force carried out the operations from Sunday morning in response to a report that about 100 landmines were found in Thailand's Chong Bok border area in Ubon Ratchathani after Cambodian soldiers had retreated. The regional army command said combat engineers initially discovered landmines, seemingly planted to obstruct troop movements, along with cluster bombs capable of causing extensive damage. As a result, engineers exercised maximum caution during the clearing operations. To support the mission, the team was equipped with heavy machinery, including armoured tractors. The goal was to ensure the safety of Thai soldiers stationed along the border. At the same time, evidence would be gathered to support claims that Cambodia had violated the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines, according to sources. The operations followed a landmine explosion in Chong Bok area on July 16. Three soldiers were injured, including one who lost a foot. An investigation revealed that the explosive was among about 100 newly laid mines amid border conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia. Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region, earlier said there would be retaliation for the landmine installation. RAdm Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for the government's Ad Hoc Center for Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation, said on Sunday that the centre would have a full-panel meeting at the National Security Council on Monday to discuss findings from the landmine explosion investigation and subsequent responses. Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, said on Sunday that Thai soldiers had discovered PMN-2 landmines — Russian-made devices not used by the Thai armed forces — in the Chong Bok area. He added that Cambodia had shared photos and video clips as part of its accusation that Thai soldiers were responsible for laying the mines. However, Maj Gen Winthai clarified that the images and footage were actually from a training session conducted by personnel from the Thailand Mine Action Center. He called the accusation a distortion of facts that unfairly damaged Thailand's reputation. Cambodia's claim that the mines were found on Thai soil, he noted, strongly suggested that they were planted by individuals who had illegally crossed into Thai territory. In Bangkok on Sunday, demonstrators gathered at the Cambodian embassy to protest against the planting of the landmines that led to the July 16 detonation. Leading the rally, Pichit Chaimongkol of the People and Student Network for the Reform of Thailand said the use of landmines violated the Ottawa Treaty and threatened the security of Thailand.
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Dig deep in mine case
A landmine explosion that injured three soldiers, one of whom had his foot blown off, while patrolling the Thai-Cambodian border in Ubon Ratchathani province requires a thorough and transparent investigation. The incident that took place on Wednesday afternoon near Hill 481 in the Chong Bok area of Nam Yuen district saw Private Thanapat Huiwan lose his foot. Two other soldiers suffered chest pain. All three are now in safe condition. The incident poses a risk to fragile bilateral ties with Cambodia, which may consequently go from bad to worse. It is worrying that some political groups have jumped to the conclusion that the neighbouring country was responsible, given the proximity to the border. Activists cite the type of landmine, a Russian-made PMN-2 that is known as a cheap and very difficult to detect, to support their claim. However, it's far too soon to be pointing fingers. Phnom Penh immediately distanced itself from the incident. Heng Ratana, chief of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), said, "If the incident was within Thailand's territorial jurisdiction or control, then Thailand would know best about it." Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, who visited the injured soldiers in Ubon Ratchathani province yesterday, dismissed earlier reports which quoted military sources suggesting the mine was newly planted, not a war remnant. The minister asked for more time to investigate and verify. This stance is more than welcome. More importantly, the government must do its best in preventing any elements from politicising the incident, which will likely see the two sides trade blame. A similar landmine incident in 2008 at Phu Makheua, when tensions peaked, followed by open armed conflict, caused losses on both sides. Let's hope those involved learn their lesson from this chapter of history and see peace as the first option. It should be noted that Thailand's demining mission has been a great success. Most of the border areas are now mine-free. Mine-infested areas have been reduced to around 20 square kilometres across the country. It's unfortunate that border disputes with Cambodia pose an obstacle to the mine-free goal. In 2022, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government made a goodwill gesture, proposing that demining activity should be carried out regardless of overlapping borders to ensure safety for those living along the border. While Cambodia agreed in principle, it has barely made any contributions to this proposal that would see it translate into concrete action with positive results. In 2024, Cambodia threw cold water on another proposal that aimed to set up 10 pilot areas for de-mining without concerns regarding the border tensions. It's a missed opportunity for the two countries, which are signatories to the Ottawa Convention prohibiting the use of anti-personnel landmines. Thailand must prove, and present solid evidence, that it adheres strictly to the treaty. Back to Gen Nattaphon's investigation plan, the government must ensure transparency and straightforwardness, and that there is no foul play.
