Opinion: Mines of Misinformation: Thailand’s War on the Truth
Thai deminers examine cleared mines which appear to be remnants of Cambodia’s decades old internal conflicts and Thailand’s own mine fields of the 1980s. TMAC
Thailand’s latest accusations against Cambodia are not just false — they are a calculated provocation designed to inflame tensions and mask its own violations of the ceasefire and international law. On August 10 and 12 2025, Bangkok claimed Cambodian forces had recently planted anti-personnel mines in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces. These claims are baseless, unsupported by evidence and intended to shift blame.
The absurdity reached new heights when The Nation reported that Thai forces had photographed a Cambodian soldier laying a new mine. If such an event truly occurred, why didn’t they arrest the individual? Why only take a photo? The answer is simple: because the claim is manufactured propaganda, not reality.
The truth is clear. The incidents occurred either in disputed zones or on Cambodia’s internationally recognised territory, as defined by the 1904 and 1907 treaties and upheld by the International Court of Justice. These areas have been well-documented for decades as minefields dating back to Cambodia’s internal conflicts of the 1970s and 1980s. Thailand’s military knowingly entered them, violating the August 7 General Border Committee (GBC) agreement prohibiting troop movements beyond current positions.
Thailand has repeatedly breached the 2000 memorandum of understanding on boundary demarcation and engaged in hostile rhetoric, including threats by its Second Army Region Commander to “reclaim” Ta Krabey Temple and “close” Ta Mone Thom Temple. Such statements violate the UN Charter, ASEAN commitments and the July 28 ceasefire, undermining fragile peace efforts.
By contrast, Cambodia’s record on mine clearance is globally recognised. As a state party to the Ottawa Convention, it has removed millions of mines, supported UN demining missions abroad and earned international praise for its commitment to peace and humanitarian action.
Cambodia calls for the immediate establishment of an impartial, independent monitoring mechanism under ASEAN facilitation and urges Thailand to accept the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction to resolve all boundary disputes.
Until then, every falsehood, every ceasefire breach and every staged photograph will remain Thailand’s burden — and the world will remember who defended truth and who chose provocation.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
