Military request halt to unilateral Thai demining operations
Photo [Thai forces search for landmines near Cambodian villagers' homes in Prey Chan village. FB]
Cambodia’s 51st Infantry Brigade has asked Thailand’s Burapha Task Force to halt today’s planned demining activities in Banteay Meanchey province’s Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages.
The October 9 request was issued a day after the Thai task force announced plans to clear mines in the disputed territory, where Cambodians have lived and farmed for generations.
The two villages border Thailand’s Nong Chan Nong and Ya Keo villages, in Sa Kaeo province.
The 51st Infantry Brigade reminded the Thai side that a three-stage process for the implementation of demining operations on the border was agreed to at the First Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC), on September 10.
Point six of the agreed minutes of the meeting outlined the three steps.
First, both Cambodia and Thailand sides shall establish the Joint Coordinating Task Force (JCTF). A JCTF working group was officially announced on September 24.
Second, working groups from both sides shall discuss and prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
“To date, the SOP have been exchanged and revised twice. On the morning of October 9, the JCTF working group held its second meeting, to discuss and revise the SOP, achieving positive, noticeable and fruitful results. The remaining points will be discussed by both sides to finalise the SOP,” the letter said.
Third, once the SOP are in effect, the JCTF will continue discussions towards reaching mutual agreement on the identification of priority areas and pilot sites for Humanitarian Demining.
The 51st Infantry Brigade, under Military Region 5, reiterated that Thailand’s unilateral announcement of demining operations runs counter to the spirit of the September 10 GBC.
“Hence, the 51st Infantry Brigade requests that the Burapha Task Force halt the planned activities, by respecting the spirit of the agreement reached at the First Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on 10 September 2025, and to wait for a decision from the higher authority and pursuant to the procedures prescribed by the JCTF’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP),” said the letter.
-The Phnom Penh Post-
