Landmine Incident Wounds Three Thai Soldiers: Urgent Call for Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire Compliance

Introduction

On the late morning of August 9, 2025, a landmine explosion in the disputed border area between Cambodia and Thailand wounded three Thai soldiers, reigniting tensions just two days after the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 7, 2025. The incident, reported by national and international outlets, including The Guardian and Reuters, occurred in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province near Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, an area fraught with historical disputes. As the fragile ceasefire, established on July 28, 2025, faces further strain, there is a pressing need for both nations to strictly implement the Agreed Minute of the GBC, particularly point 2, which calls for avoiding military provocations. This article examines the incident, the ceasefire agreement, and the urgent need for compliance to prevent further escalation and confusion at the frontlines.

The August 9 Landmine Incident

According to the Royal Thai Army, a patrol from Infantry Company 111 was conducting a routine security sweep in the Chong Don Ao-Krissana border area, approximately 1.8 kilometers from Phu Makua, when a landmine detonated around 10:00 AM on August 9, 2025. The explosion injured three soldiers: Sergeant Major First Class Thani Paha, who lost his left foot; Private Pakpoom Chaisura, who sustained arm and back injuries; and Private Thananchai Kraiwong, who suffered a concussion and ruptured eardrum. The soldiers were promptly evacuated to a local hospital for treatment. The Thai military stated that the site, within Thai territory, had been cleared of mines earlier, suggesting the device was recently planted.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Cambodia of laying the landmine, labeling it a “blatant violation” of the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, to which both countries are signatories. Major General Winthai Suvaree, Thai army spokesperson, called the incident “a significant obstacle to ceasefire measures and peaceful resolution,” as reported by PBS News and Al Jazeera. Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence responded cautiously, stating it “has yet to receive clear confirmation from frontline forces” but affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire. The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) denied planting new mines, suggesting the device could be a remnant from past conflicts, given Cambodia’s estimated 4–6 million unexploded ordnance (UXO) from decades of war.

Context of the Border Conflict

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, rooted in colonial-era mappings by French authorities, centers on contested areas along the 800-kilometer frontier, particularly near the Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings in 1962 and 2013 awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia, but surrounding territories remain disputed, fueling periodic clashes. The latest escalation began in May 2025 with a Cambodian soldier’s death, followed by landmine incidents on July 16 and 23 wounding Thai soldiers. By late July, heavy fighting, including Cambodian rocket attacks and Thai airstrikes, killed at least 43 people and displaced over 260,000, prompting a Malaysia-brokered ceasefire on July 28, 2025, supported by U.S. tariff pressure and ASEAN mediation.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions persist. Thailand’s detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers since July 29, 2025, and allegations of Cambodian PMN-2 landmine planting, countered by Cambodia’s claims of Thai cluster munition use, have strained relations. The August 9 incident, the fourth landmine-related injury to Thai soldiers in recent weeks, underscores the ceasefire’s fragility and the risk of further “confused situations” at the frontlines.

The Extraordinary General Border Committee Meeting

The Extraordinary GBC meeting, held on August 7, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was a critical step toward stabilizing the ceasefire. Hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the meeting resulted in a 13-point Agreed Minute, formalizing commitments to de-escalate tensions. Point 2, as highlighted by Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, specifically mandates “avoiding military provocations” by both sides, including halting troop movements, refraining from hostile actions, and ensuring compliance with agreed patrol routes. The agreement also allowed ASEAN observers to monitor disputed areas, a measure aimed at preventing incidents like the August 9 landmine explosion.

Both nations expressed gratitude to Malaysia, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet nominating U.S. President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in pressuring the ceasefire. However, the August 9 incident, occurring just 48 hours later, highlights the challenges of implementing the Agreed Minute, particularly point 2, which seeks to prevent actions that could be perceived as provocative or escalatory.

Cambodia’s Call for Compliance

Cambodia has urged Thailand to strictly adhere to the GBC’s Agreed Minute to avoid further incidents and misunderstandings. CMAA Senior Minister Ly Thuch emphasized that Cambodia has complied with the ceasefire, including respecting agreed patrol routes and refraining from deploying new mines. Posts on X, such as by @pheaktraneth on August 9, 2025, reflect Cambodian sentiment, rejecting Thailand’s accusations and calling for joint investigations into UXO origins. Cambodia argues that the region’s legacy of millions of UXO from past wars, including the Khmer Rouge era, complicates attribution, and insists that only cooperative efforts can clarify responsibility.

Thailand, however, maintains that the landmine was a newly planted PMN-2, citing its August 20 discovery of a smartphone in Phu Makhuea allegedly showing Cambodian soldiers handling such mines. Cambodia dismissed this as inconclusive, noting that the mines displayed to international observers on August 16 had intact arming pins, rendering them non-functional. This back-and-forth underscores the need for both sides to honor point 2 of the Agreed Minute to prevent miscalculations and ensure transparency.

Humanitarian and Regional Implications

The August 9 incident exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the border region. The wounded soldiers highlight the ongoing danger of UXO, which threatens returning civilians in Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Oddar Meanchey provinces. CMAC has intensified efforts to survey, mark, and clear UXO, including MK-84 bombs and M-46 cluster sub-munitions from Thai artillery, as verified by a 14-nation defense attaché delegation on August 10, 2025, in Thordaun Village. These remnants, scattered across farmland and villages, pose long-term risks, with CMAC urging residents to report sightings to its hotline (023-880-489).

The incident also risks derailing the ceasefire. Thailand’s threat to exercise “self-defense” under international law, as stated on August 12, 2025, and Cambodia’s accusations of Thai cluster munition use violating humanitarian principles, deepen mistrust. The economic toll is significant, with 780,000 Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand and trade disrupted. Social media on X, including posts by @armyspoke_news and @MinistryofInfo1, reflects polarized narratives, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of disinformation and Cambodia calling for international oversight.

Path to Stability

To prevent further incidents and confusion, both nations must:

1. Implement Point 2: Strictly adhere to the GBC’s commitment to avoid military provocations, ensuring patrols stay within agreed routes and no new ordnance is deployed.

2. Joint Investigations: Establish an ASEAN-led team to verify the origin of the August 9 landmine, addressing disputes over PMN-2 mines and UXO.

3. UXO Clearance: Thailand and Cambodia should collaborate on mine clearance, with international support from Japan and Norway, to protect civilians.

4. Release Detainees: Thailand’s release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers could rebuild trust and support ceasefire compliance.

5. Protect Cultural Sites: Both sides must safeguard Prasat Preah Vihear, damaged by artillery, per the 1954 Hague Convention.

The upcoming GBC meeting in Siem Reap (September 8–10, 2025) offers a critical opportunity to reinforce these commitments and address the August 9 incident.

Conclusion

The landmine explosion on August 9, 2025, wounding three Thai soldiers, underscores the fragility of the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire and the urgent need to implement the Agreed Minute of the August 7 GBC meeting, particularly point 2 on avoiding military provocations. As of August 20, 2025, mutual accusations over the landmine’s origin and ongoing tensions, including Thailand’s detention of Cambodian soldiers, threaten to destabilize the truce. Collaborative investigations, UXO clearance, and adherence to international law are essential to prevent further incidents and confusion at the frontlines. The international community, through ASEAN and the UN, must support these efforts to ensure lasting peace and safety for communities along the Cambodia-Thailand border.