Friday, 17 October 2008

Thailand to raise Cambodian mines issue

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on October 17, 2008

Thailand plans to launch a diplomatic strike against Cambodia by seeking clarification on Phnom Penh's compliance with the United Nations' Ottawa Mine Ban Convention over anti-personnel landmines found in the disputed area of Phu Ma Khua.

The Foreign Ministry yesterday alleged that Cambodia had recently planted PMN-2 type landmines, which seriously injured two Thai paramilitary rangers who lost their leg on October 6.

The ministry briefed 64 Bangkok-based diplomats yesterday on the issue and the border skirmish, which killed two Cambodian soldiers.

A Cambodian diplomat was also invited but did not show up for the meeting. The ministry launched another protest yesterday over the clash at Pha Mor I Daeng on Wednesday that raised the total number of Thai soldiers injured to seven.

The PMN-2 type, manufactured in Russia, was never used by Thai armed forces, said Lt-General Tumrongsak Deemongkul, Director of Thailand Mine Action Centre.

"The area of Phu Ma Khua has been cleared and the anti-personnel mines we found are new," he said.

Thailand and Cambodia, as signatories to the Ottawa Convention, are obligated not to use anti-personnel mines.

The Foreign Ministry is collecting evidence to submit its request through the UN secretary-general seeking clarification from Cambodia over the mines found in Phu Ma Khua, said Chakarin Chayabongse, deputy director-general of the International Organisation Department.

In accordance with the Ottawa Convention's article eight, Cambodia must clarify within 28 days.
If Thailand does not obtain a satisfactory clarification, it has the right to take the matter, through the UN secretary-general, to the meeting of 122 member states.

The Ottawa Convention has no sanctions clause but state parties are obligated to comply, said Virachai Plasai, Director of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department.

Seeking enforcement of the Ottawa Convention was the latest move from the ministry after the border dispute with Cambodia developed into military clashes.

Thailand is insisting on using bilateral mechanisms to end the conflict peacefully. But using such mechanisms will take time since the procedure required by the Thai Constitution is quite long, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern about the exchange of gunfire along the Thai-Cambodian border.

"He calls on both parties to exercise utmost restraint and urges them to expedite bilateral talks so that their differences can be resolved peacefully," Ban's spokesperson said in a statement.

The United Kingdom's Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell expressed his concern and urged both sides to exercise restraint and take immediate steps to ease tension and find a peaceful solution to this dispute through bilateral discussions.

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