Thai army takes landmine dispute to global stage with attaché briefing

The Thai Army invited military attachés from 47 countries, including Cambodia, for a special meeting at the Army headquarters today, to receive a briefing on the situation along the Thai-Cambodia border and the recent landmine explosion at Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani, when three Thai soldiers were injured, one seriously.

Lt-Gen Kamchai Wongsri, director of the Army Intelligence Department, told the military attachés that the landmines were laid by Cambodian troops, in a clear violation of Thai sovereignty, and in violation of the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry issued a statement today, however, categorically denying that Cambodian troops had laid the landmines and accusing Thai troops of trespassing on Cambodian territory and triggering the landmine explosion.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry also challenged Thailand to take the case to the International Court of Justice.

Photo: Second from R is Cambodian military attache to Thailand