Unarmed Mines or Escalating Tensions? The PMN-2 Landmine Dispute at the Thailand-Cambodia Border

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Unarmed Mines or Escalating Tensions? The PMN-2 Landmine Dispute at the Thailand-Cambodia Border

Introduction

The fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, established on July 28, 2025, to end deadly border clashes, is under strain as accusations over PMN-2 landmines intensify. Thailand has accused Cambodian armed forces of planting these anti-personnel mines in Thai territory, citing injuries to its soldiers as evidence of aggression. In response, Cambodia’s Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has firmly denied these claims, asserting that the PMN-2 landmines in question were unarmed, with their safety pins intact, rendering them non-functional. This article examines the controversy, Cambodia’s defense, the technical aspects of PMN-2 mines, and the implications for the ceasefire and regional stability.

Background of the Border Conflict

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, rooted in colonial-era mappings from the early 20th century, centers on contested areas along the 800-kilometer frontier, including the Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings in 1962 and 2013 affirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over Preah Vihear, but disputes over surrounding territories persist. 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 artillery exchanges, Cambodian rocket attacks, and Thai airstrikes had killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000, prompting a Malaysia-brokered ceasefire with U.S. and ASEAN support.

The ceasefire, effective from midnight on July 28, 2025, aimed to halt hostilities, but incidents like Thailand’s capture of 20 Cambodian soldiers on July 29 and ongoing landmine disputes have tested its durability. Thailand’s allegations of Cambodian mine-laying, particularly PMN-2 anti-personnel mines, have become a focal point, with Cambodia’s response challenging the narrative.

Cambodia’s Defense: Unarmed PMN-2 Landmines

Heng Ratana, Director-General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), issued a statement on August 16, 2025, clarifying that the PMN-2 landmines Thailand accused Cambodian forces of planting in Thai territory were all unarmed. “Just to let everybody know, the PMN-2 landmines which Thailand claims were laid by Cambodian armed forces in Thai territory are all unarmed. If these PMN-2 mines were intended to cause incidents, the arming pin must be removed for the mine to become functional,” Ratana declared, as reported by Khmer Times and echoed on X by users like @noansereiboth and @KemSokhorn_st.

The PMN-2, a Soviet-era anti-personnel blast mine, is a circular plastic device with a black rubber pressure plate, approximately 120mm in diameter and containing 100g of TNT/RDX. Its pressure-activated fuze requires the removal of an arming pin and a side key, which shears the pin and initiates a 30-to-300-second pneumatic delay, making the mine functional. Cambodia’s claim, supported by technical analysis on X by @jacobincambodia, is that the mines displayed by Thailand during an August 16 inspection in Si Sa Ket province had intact arming pins, meaning they could not detonate. “A sheared pin cannot be reinserted,” the user noted, suggesting the mines were either for demonstration or not recently planted.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence and CMAC argue that these unarmed mines, presented as evidence by Thailand, were likely remnants from past conflicts or staged to discredit Cambodia. Ly Thuch, First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, highlighted Cambodia’s 30-year mine clearance efforts, which have cleared 3,297 square kilometers and destroyed 1.2 million anti-personnel mines, reinforcing Cambodia’s commitment to the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning such weapons.

Thailand’s Counterclaims

Thailand’s Royal Thai Army, through spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree, has rejected Cambodia’s assertions, claiming the mines were newly planted and operational. Between July 15 and August 12, 2025, Thailand reported discovering 41 PMN-2 mines in Thai territory, including at Chong Bok, Ta Kwai, and Ta Muen Thom, areas previously cleared by the Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) from 2020 to 2022. Thailand cited injuries to soldiers, such as a July 16 incident in Ubon Ratchathani where one soldier lost a foot, and an August 12 explosion in Surin, as evidence of Cambodia’s violations of the Ottawa Convention.

A significant Thai claim emerged on August 20, 2025, when the Royal Thai Navy found a smartphone in the Phu Makhuea area containing videos and photos of Cambodian soldiers handling PMN-2 mines, allegedly instructing each other on arming and planting them. Thailand presented this to international diplomats, arguing it disproves Cambodia’s denials. However, Cambodia’s CMAC dismissed the evidence, noting that the mines shown had intact pins, and accused Thailand of misleading international observers.

Technical and Political Implications

The dispute hinges on the technical state of the PMN-2 mines. If unarmed, as Cambodia claims, they pose no threat, supporting Cambodia’s narrative of compliance with the Ottawa Convention. Posts on X, like @KampucheaPresse, emphasize that the mines shown to diplomats on August 16 were “intact and non-functional,” casting doubt on Thailand’s accusations. However, Thailand’s evidence of injuries and the smartphone footage suggests some mines may have been armed, challenging Cambodia’s position. The lack of independent verification, due to restricted access in contested areas, complicates the truth.

Politically, the controversy threatens the ceasefire. Thailand’s detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers since July 29, 2025, and incidents like the August 12 landmine explosion have deepened mistrust. Cambodia accuses Thailand of using the mine issue to justify aggression, while Thailand claims Cambodia’s denials are a cover for violating international law. Both nations have invited ASEAN and UN observers, but ongoing tensions, including damage to Prasat Preah Vihear from artillery and alleged cluster bombs, underscore the ceasefire’s fragility.

Global and Regional Stakes

The landmine dispute has broader implications. The Ottawa Convention, ratified by both countries in 1999, bans anti-personnel mines, and violations could damage their international reputations. Cambodia, a recipient of significant mine-clearance funding from Japan and Norway, faces scrutiny over its alleged stockpiles, while Thailand’s claims risk escalating diplomatic tensions. The conflict’s economic impact is severe, with 780,000 Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand and trade disrupted. U.S. tariff threats, leveraged by President Donald Trump, remain a key factor in pressuring compliance.

Social media reflects polarized sentiments. Cambodian users like @OkenwaCrypto1 accuse Thailand of “lying” to frame Cambodia, while Thai users like @Tangmae_TJH condemn Cambodia for violating the Ottawa Convention. These narratives fuel nationalist rhetoric, complicating peace efforts.

Path Forward

Resolving the dispute requires:

  1. Independent Verification: ASEAN or UN monitors must access contested sites to verify the mines’ status and origin.

  2. Ceasefire Compliance: Both nations must honor the July 28 agreement, including Thailand releasing the 18 detained soldiers.

  3. Joint Mine Clearance: A collaborative effort, as proposed by Thailand but rejected by Cambodia, could build trust.

  4. Cultural Protection: Both sides must protect sites like Prasat Preah Vihear, damaged in the conflict, per the 1954 Hague Convention.

  5. Diplomatic Dialogue: The General Border Committee meeting in Siem Reap (September 8–10, 2025) offers a chance to address these issues.

Conclusion

Cambodia’s assertion that the PMN-2 landmines accused by Thailand are unarmed, with intact arming pins, challenges the narrative of aggression and highlights the complexity of the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute. While Thailand presents evidence of injuries and alleged Cambodian mine-laying, the lack of independent verification fuels mistrust. As of August 20, 2025, the ceasefire holds precariously, strained by this controversy and the detention of Cambodian soldiers. The international community, through ASEAN and the UN, must facilitate transparency and dialogue to prevent further escalation and protect the region’s stability and cultural heritage. The truth about the PMN-2 mines remains contested, but peace depends on resolving these disputes with facts and cooperation.

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