Cambodia has not planted any new landmines and had warned Thai military commanders that a disputed border area was heavily infested and dangerous well before two Thai rangers were seriously wounded by mines this week, an official said Tuesday.
Cambodia Mine Action Centre director, Khem Sophoan, said Tuesday that Cambodian officials and soldiers had warned Thai troops in the area that it was only partially demined and that walking off clearly marked paths around the disputed border area was dangerous.
"Cambodia does not have landmines to lay and has absolutely not laid any new mines," he said.
"The mines that hurt Thai troops are left over from our civil war."
Cambodia ended 30 years of war barely a decade ago and remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
Two Thai rangers lost their legs as they stepped on landmines while patrolling along the Thai-Cambodian border near the disputed Preah Vihear temple Monday, drawing some Thai media reports sourced to Thai military that Cambodian forces may be planting new mines.
The rangers were the second and third men respectively to have been wounded by mines since the border stand-off began in June. Reports Cambodia might have fortified its border with mines have upset Cambodian officials.
The explosion happened three days after soldiers from both sides were wounded in a brief exchange of gunfire near the disputed area.
Preah Vihear, an ancient Hindu temple built on a cliff on the Dongrak mountain range that defines the Thai-Cambodian border, has been a source of conflict between the neighbours for decades.
In 1962, the two countries agreed to settle joint claims to the temple at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Cambodia won, but the court stopped short of defining the border in the area.
Thailand claims that a 4.6-square-kilometre plot of land adjoining the temple is still disputed.
In July, UNESCO agreed to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site despite Thailand's protests, and in mid-July Cambodia alleges Thai troops entered its sovereign territory - claims Thailand denies.
Efforts have since been made to solve the dispute diplomatically - a route Cambodia insists it is intent on following - but have been slowed by political turmoil in Thailand.
Cambodia Mine Action Centre director, Khem Sophoan, said Tuesday that Cambodian officials and soldiers had warned Thai troops in the area that it was only partially demined and that walking off clearly marked paths around the disputed border area was dangerous.
"Cambodia does not have landmines to lay and has absolutely not laid any new mines," he said.
"The mines that hurt Thai troops are left over from our civil war."
Cambodia ended 30 years of war barely a decade ago and remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
Two Thai rangers lost their legs as they stepped on landmines while patrolling along the Thai-Cambodian border near the disputed Preah Vihear temple Monday, drawing some Thai media reports sourced to Thai military that Cambodian forces may be planting new mines.
The rangers were the second and third men respectively to have been wounded by mines since the border stand-off began in June. Reports Cambodia might have fortified its border with mines have upset Cambodian officials.
The explosion happened three days after soldiers from both sides were wounded in a brief exchange of gunfire near the disputed area.
Preah Vihear, an ancient Hindu temple built on a cliff on the Dongrak mountain range that defines the Thai-Cambodian border, has been a source of conflict between the neighbours for decades.
In 1962, the two countries agreed to settle joint claims to the temple at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Cambodia won, but the court stopped short of defining the border in the area.
Thailand claims that a 4.6-square-kilometre plot of land adjoining the temple is still disputed.
In July, UNESCO agreed to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site despite Thailand's protests, and in mid-July Cambodia alleges Thai troops entered its sovereign territory - claims Thailand denies.
Efforts have since been made to solve the dispute diplomatically - a route Cambodia insists it is intent on following - but have been slowed by political turmoil in Thailand.
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