Thailand has formally demanded an apology from Cambodia, accusing its neighbour of laying new landmines that severely injured a Thai soldier. The incident has reignited tensions along a disputed border region, just a day after Bangkok suspended a US-brokered ceasefire pact.
A Damaging Explosion and a Diplomatic Row
The immediate catalyst for this fresh dispute was a landmine explosion on Monday. The device detonated during a Thai military patrol along the contentious frontier, maiming one soldier.
A spokesperson for the Thai foreign ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, stated clearly on Wednesday, "We want the Cambodian side to issue an apology." He further elaborated that Bangkok has asked Phnom Penh to investigate the incident, determine accountability, and implement measures to prevent such events in the future.
However, Cambodia's government has firmly denied the allegations. A Cambodian defence ministry statement on Tuesday insisted the country had not laid new mines and reaffirmed its commitment to working with Thailand under the terms of their recent agreement.
A History of Conflict and a Fragile Peace
This latest incident threatens to undo a fragile peace established after a five-day conflict in July that resulted in significant casualties. During those clashes, which involved rocket fire, heavy artillery, and airstrikes, at least 48 people were killed and an estimated 300,000 were temporarily displaced.
The fighting was halted following diplomatic intervention by then-US President Donald Trump, who made telephone calls to the leaders of both nations. President Trump later presided over the signing of an enhanced truce agreement in Malaysia last month, a deal that now hangs in the balance.
Landmines have been a persistent and deadly problem in this border area. Since 16 July, at least seven Thai soldiers have been severely injured in a similar number of mine-related incidents. Expert analysis of material provided by Thailand's military, cited by Reuters, suggests that some of these explosions were caused by newly laid mines.
A Century-Old Border Dispute
The root of the tension lies in a territorial dispute that has spanned over a century. The two Southeast Asian nations contest sovereignty over undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border.
This boundary was first mapped in 1907 by France during its colonial rule of Cambodia, and the ambiguity of this original demarcation continues to fuel disagreements and occasional outbreaks of violence to this day.
