Old Mines, New Lies: Thai Accusations Threaten Peace

[Thai soldiers carry a comrade who triggered an anti-personnel mine explosion on November 10. Royal Thai Army]

-Opinion-
On November 10, a landmine exploded near the Cambodia–Thailand border, injuring Thai soldiers patrolling a site that is undeniably the site of many explosive remnants of past conflicts. Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence expressed regret over the injuries and confirmed that both militaries have communicated, with the situation remaining calm.

Yet, almost immediately, Thai leaders and media accused Cambodia of planting new landmines, framing the explosion as deliberate Cambodian aggression. These allegations are false and baseless. Cambodia has been fully compliant with the Ottawa Convention and has not placed any new mines. The risks along the border come from decades-old unexploded ordnance, not new provocations.

What we are witnessing is not a simple misunderstanding; it is bad faith. Thailand has deliberately used this incident to manufacture outrage, shift blame, and create political cover for avoiding its obligations under the October 26 Joint Declaration, which was designed to ensure peace, stability and civilian safety along the border.

By sensationalising the explosion, Thailand transforms a tragic accident into a justification for stalling demining, escalating tensions and undermining trust. This is a calculated tactic in a long history of provocation and information warfare.

Cambodia has repeatedly warned Thailand to exercise caution in old minefields. The danger is real: unexploded ordnance from past conflicts continues to threaten civilians in border areas. Cambodia has invested decades in demining, yet these hazards remain. Rather than acknowledging the risks, Thailand’s narrative deliberately blames Cambodia for accidents that are entirely the result of past conflicts.

Despite these provocations, Cambodia remains committed to peace, dialogue and civilian protection. Both militaries communicated promptly after the incident, and the situation on the ground remains calm. Cambodia continues to work closely with Thailand to implement the Joint Declaration, emphasizing verification, joint demining and transparent cooperation.

Let there be no mistake: blaming Cambodia for old mines is a strategic political manoeuvre, not a matter of fact. It is designed to inflame public sentiment, evade responsibility and manipulate international perception. Cambodia calls on Thailand to abandon this pattern of misinformation and focus on truth, verification and collaborative peacebuilding. Headlines and theatrics cannot replace trust or enforce agreements; only sustained dialogue, transparency and cooperation can.

The people along the border deserve safety, stability and respect for international law — not misinformation, manipulation and bad faith. Cambodia chooses peace and adherence to agreements. The choice facing Thailand is clear: will it join in genuine cooperation, or continue to exploit incidents as political tools? The stability of the border and the trust between our countries cannot survive repeated cycles of accusation and theatrics. Cambodia remains steadfast. Peace is not optional — it is a responsibility.

Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.

-The Phnom Penh Post-