Foreign Ministry set to petition UN on Cambodian violation of Ottawa Convention

Written by Writer on Friday, October 17th, 2008

Foreign Ministry set to petition UN on Cambodian violation of Ottawa Convention

BANGKOK, Oct 16 (TNA) - Thailand’s Foreign Ministry is considering to file complaints to the United Nations to investigate whether Cambodia has violated the Ottawa Convention that bans landmine usage by signatory members, according to Chakarin Chayabongse, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday briefed members of the diplomatic corps about recent Thai-Cambodia border incidents.

Representatives from 64 countries attended the event. They were told of the list of events since early October.

On October 6, while on routine patrol deep inside Thai territory to the north of Phu Ma Khua in an area near the Temple of Phrea Vihear, two Thai paramilitary rangers stepped on landmines and lost their legs.

The route taken by the Thai soldiers was known to have previously been cleared of landmines.

The Thai Mines Action Center (TMAC) in responseherefore sent a team of officials to investigate and clear the area. The team found a number of recently planted anti-personnel mines in an area nearby.

Upon further inspection, they found recently planted PMN2-type landmines manufactured in Russia — a type of mine that has never been used or possessed by the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

As Thai paramilitary rangers had never found this type of landmine while patrolling this route prior to October 3, the Thai Government believes that the PMN 2 landmines were planted after the incident.

Mr, Chakarin said Thailand views this development with alarm, as it indicates a serious violation of the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction of 1997 which also known as the Ottawa or Mine Ban Convention to which both Cambodia and Thailand are State parties. (TNA)