Cluster Munitions Crisis: Cambodia’s Urgent Response to Thailand’s Use of Deadly Weapons

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Cluster Munitions Crisis: Cambodia’s Urgent Response to Thailand’s Use of Deadly Weapons

Introduction

The fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, established on July 28, 2025, to end a deadly five-day border conflict, faces severe strain due to Thailand’s confirmed use of cluster munitions. From July 24 to July 28, 2025, Thai forces fired 155mm artillery shells, each containing 56 M-46 sub-munitions, into Cambodian territory, leaving behind dangerous unexploded ordnance (UXO). These remnants pose immense risks to civilians, hanging on trees, rooftops, and ground surfaces, or lurking in water bodies across Samroung and Banteay Ampil Districts in Banteay Meanchey province and Choam Khsant District in Preah Vihear province. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has mobilized expert teams to survey, mark, and clear these hazardous remnants, urging residents to exercise extreme caution. This article examines the crisis, CMAC’s response, the dangers of cluster munitions, and the global imperative to uphold the 2010 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).

The Thailand-Cambodia Conflict and Cluster Munitions

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, rooted in colonial-era mappings, centers on contested areas near the Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples. Tensions escalated in May 2025 after a Cambodian soldier’s death, followed by a landmine explosion in July injuring five Thai soldiers. By late July, heavy fighting involving Cambodian rocket systems and Thai airstrikes killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000. During this period, Thailand deployed 155mm artillery shells, each carrying 56 M-46 dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) sub-munitions, as confirmed by CMAC on August 13, 2025.

Cluster munitions are explosive weapons that scatter smaller sub-munitions over wide areas, designed to target personnel and vehicles. The M-46 sub-munitions, known for their high failure rate (2–40%), often remain unexploded, creating long-term hazards. These bomblets, weighing approximately 0.6 kg and containing high explosives, can detonate upon disturbance, posing severe risks to civilians. CMAC reports indicate that unexploded M-46 sub-munitions have been found lodged in trees, on rooftops, in agricultural fields, and in water bodies, threatening communities in Samroung, Banteay Ampil, and Choam Khsant Districts.

CMAC’s Response: Survey, Marking, and Clearance

Since the ceasefire, CMAC expert teams have been actively conducting surveys to locate unexploded M-46 sub-munitions, marking contaminated areas, and initiating clearance operations to ensure public safety. On August 13, 2025, CMAC reported identifying multiple cluster munition sites, particularly near civilian areas, and has prioritized rapid response to mitigate risks. “These unexploded sub-munitions are very high risk and can affect large areas,” said CMAC Director-General Heng Ratana, emphasizing the threat to residents returning to their homes.

CMAC’s efforts involve:

  • Surveying: Teams use drones and ground assessments to map contaminated zones, identifying M-46 sub-munitions in challenging locations like treetops and water bodies.

  • Marking: Warning signs and barriers are erected to alert communities, with posters in Khmer and English displayed in villages, schools, and public spaces.

  • Clearance: Trained deminers carefully remove and neutralize UXO, a process complicated by the sub-munitions’ instability and widespread dispersal.

CMAC has issued urgent advisories, urging residents to avoid touching or approaching suspected UXO and to contact CMAC experts, local authorities, or police for assistance. A hotline (023-880-489) and community networks have been established for reporting sightings. Social media campaigns on X, led by users like @KhmerSafety and @CMAC_Official, reinforce these warnings, sharing images of marked sites and safety tips.

Humanitarian and Cultural Risks

The use of cluster munitions has heightened dangers in an already volatile region. Cambodia, scarred by millions of UXO from the Vietnam War era, faces a renewed threat. Unexploded M-46 sub-munitions endanger farmers, children, and returnees, with risks of accidental detonation in agricultural fields or near homes. In Choam Khsant, cluster bomblets near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Prasat Preah Vihear, damaged by artillery and airstrikes, threaten restoration efforts and cultural preservation.

The humanitarian impact is severe. In Samroung, shells struck Monorom 1+2 Primary School, endangering children and staff, while in Banteay Ampil, UXO has restricted access to farmland, disrupting livelihoods. CMAC’s education campaigns, including workshops and posters, aim to raise awareness, but the scale of contamination requires sustained international support.

Violation of International Law

The 2010 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), effective since August 1, 2010, bans the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions due to their indiscriminate nature. As of August 2025, 123 countries are parties to the CCM, but neither Thailand nor Cambodia has ratified it. Thailand’s use of cluster munitions, confirmed by Major General Winthai Suvaree on July 25, 2025, has drawn condemnation from Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, which labeled it a “grave violation” of international humanitarian law and a potential war crime.

Cambodia’s CMAA Senior Minister Ly Thuch emphasized that, while not a CCM signatory, Cambodia has never used cluster munitions and has cleared millions of UXO from past conflicts. The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) and Human Rights Watch have called for a UN-led investigation, citing Thailand’s 2011 use of cluster munitions in the same region, which killed two and injured eight. Posts on X, such as by @ASEANPeaceNow, urge both nations to accede to the CCM to prevent further harm.

Thailand’s Justification and Ongoing Tensions

Thailand’s Royal Thai Army defends its use of cluster munitions, claiming they targeted only military objectives and were necessary for “self-defense” during Cambodian rocket attacks. Major General Suvaree stated on July 25, 2025, that the munitions have “no long-term impact on civilians” and are not banned for non-CCM signatories like Thailand, the U.S., and Russia. However, the high failure rate of M-46 sub-munitions contradicts this claim, as evidenced by CMAC’s findings of widespread UXO contamination.

The ceasefire, brokered by Malaysia with U.S. and ASEAN support, remains fragile. Thailand’s detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers since July 29, 2025, and disputes over alleged PMN-2 landmines have fueled mutual accusations. Cambodia claims Thailand’s cluster munitions damaged civilian areas and Prasat Preah Vihear, while Thailand alleges Cambodian violations, including a landmine explosion on August 12 injuring a Thai soldier. The General Border Committee’s August 4–7 meetings extended the ceasefire, but unresolved issues threaten further escalation.

Global Responsibility and Call to Action

The use of cluster munitions underscores the need for global action. The CCM, supported by 123 states, mandates clearance, victim assistance, and risk education, obligations Thailand’s actions contravene. UNESCO and the UN have called for protecting cultural sites like Prasat Preah Vihear and ensuring civilian safety. International donors, including Japan and Norway, must support CMAC’s clearance efforts, estimated to cost $20 million for the affected districts.

CMAC urges residents to:

  • Avoid touching or moving suspected UXO.

  • Report sightings to CMAC (023-880-489), local police, or authorities.

  • Stay clear of marked areas in Samroung, Banteay Ampil, and Choam Khsant.

Conclusion

Thailand’s use of 155mm artillery shells containing 56 M-46 sub-munitions during the July 2025 border conflict has left a dangerous legacy of unexploded ordnance in Cambodia, threatening lives and cultural heritage. CMAC’s tireless survey, marking, and clearance efforts are critical to ensuring safety in Samroung, Banteay Ampil, and Choam Khsant, but the scale of contamination demands global support. The violation of the CCM’s principles, even by a non-signatory, highlights the urgent need for Thailand and Cambodia to join the 123-state convention and prioritize humanitarian and cultural protection. As of August 20, 2025, the ceasefire holds precariously, but only through cooperation and accountability can the region avoid further tragedy and safeguard its people and heritage.

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