Cluster bomb found in Cambodia following the shelling by Thailand
Thailand and Cambodia should join global treaty banning cluster munitions
5th April, 2011
Source: Cluster Munition Coalition
(Bangkok/Geneva/Phnom Penh, 6 April 2011) - Based on two separate on-site investigations, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) has concluded that Thailand used cluster munitions on Cambodian territory during the February 2011 border conflict. Thai officials confirmed the use of cluster munitions in a meeting with the CMC on 5 April.
This is the first use of cluster munitions anywhere in the world since the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force and became binding international law. The CMC condemns any use of cluster munitions, and urges Thailand and Cambodia to immediately commit to no future use and to accede to the global treaty banning the weapons.
“It’s appalling that any country would resort to using cluster munitions after the international community banned them,” said Laura Cheeseman, director of the CMC. “Thailand has been a leader in the global ban on antipersonnel mines, and it is unconscionable that it used banned weapons that indiscriminately kill and injure civilians in a similar manner.”
In a meeting on 5 April, the Thai Ambassador to the UN in Geneva confirmed Thai use of 155mm Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) cluster munitions. The Ambassador said Thailand used cluster munitions “in self-defence”, using the principles of “necessity, proportionality and in compliance with the military code of conduct”. He alleged heavy use of rocket fire by Cambodian forces against civilian targets in Satisuk, in the Khun Khan district of Thailand.
In February and April of this year, CMC members conducted two separate missions to cluster munition contaminated areas in Cambodia including in Svay Chrum Village, Sen Chey Village and around the Preah Vihear temple hill, and witnessed unexploded submunitions and fragmentation damage caused by cluster munitions. Norwegian People’s Aid confirmed that unexploded M42/M46 and M85 type DPICM submunitions have been found.
Atle Karlsen of Norwegian People’s Aid said, “There are around 5,000 people living in Sen Chey village that are at risk from these unexploded weapons. Thailand must supply information to help clear affected areas and make them safe for civilians to return home.”
Sister Denise Coghlan, a CMC leader who took part in the first research mission said, ”These cluster munitions have already robbed two men of their lives, two more have lost their arms and a further five were injured. The area must be cleared immediately to prevent more suffering. Cambodia must make every effort to ensure the safety of civilians.”
The CMC has urged Thailand to provide detailed information on the results of its inquiry, including the location of all cluster munition strikes, so that civilians can be adequately warned of the dangers and to assist the effective and efficient clearance of submunition remnants, which pose dangers like landmines. The CMC is also calling on Cambodia to accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and as interim steps commit to no use, make known the types and quantity of cluster munitions in its stockpile and start destruction.
Cambodia and Thailand are not among the 108 countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions but each has joined the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Both countries participated in the “Oslo Process” to negotiate the Convention on Cluster Munitions and attended its First Meeting of States Parties in neighbouring Lao PDR in November 2010.
“This conflict should spur both countries to take urgent action to denounce the weapons and join the ban treaty,” said Cheeseman.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force as binding international law on 1 August 2010, banning the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions, while requiring states to destroy stockpiles, clear contaminated land and assist victims and affected communities. Of the 108 countries that have signed the Convention since it opened for signature in December 2008, 55 countries have already ratified.
Contacts:
Sister Denise Coghlan
Cambodian Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions, Cambodia, +855-124-88950
Laura Cheeseman
Cluster Munition Coalition, UK, +44-7515-575-175
10 comments:
Thailand or Siam army can not fight straight with cambodian, So they have to cheat/tricky, by using cluster bombs...Thailand has done this before in the history, remembered SIAM army cheated, used money, gold coins to lure khmers, inorder to get inside ' BANTEAY LUNG VEK, THE STRONGEST KHMER MILITARY BASE'...I knew Thai army can't fight straight, they are good in cheated...manipulated, because they are good in that!!
United Nation Security Council must prosecuted Thailand for using illegally weapons(Cluster Bombs) against cambodian civilians....Thailand cheated, because their army have no match against Khmer Empier Army Warriors!! Thailand suppose to be a good role model for South East Asian Nations? Thailand suppose to be a civilized country...What happening? Thailand embarrass itself??
Thailand really fuck up bad....! Gen. Chan O'cha Prayuth is fuck up man!! You Siam bastard is cheating....
cambodia should use landmines plating along the border for protecting cambodia territory who care if thai can use cluster bombs against cambodia .
thai values it neighbors as inferior.
Khmer rouge army has planted mines all over the border area...during civil war, they did this to prevent Siam-thief and Viet-thief from encroaching...yes! That's why so many mines are still out there...CMAC still working to clear them Out!
The most heaviest mines area is Thai/Cambodian bordre area....>Pailin, Preah vihear, Anlong Veng, Choam Khsant, Trapeang Prassadh, Chheb, former khmer rouge army planted and protected our border from Siams!!
Why United Nation still done nothing,...after Thailand broke the international law?
Thailand's use of cluster bombs is against international laws, so Thailand must be prosecuted under international laws. The use of cluster bombs constitute a war crime, so international criminal court must prosecute Thai military leaders for war crimes. This is cowardice to fight a war by using dirty bombs and dirty tricks.
cambodian government shouldn't allow thai do ever what they want if thai want to play dirty cambodian should not stand idle this is the golden opportunity to raise the issues with international community lobby international community to pressure thailand to play by the rules or else .
otherwise cambodia will use the landmines or the other means and thailand should not complaint about it every time if there's clash cambodia can flatten their villages thai post the artillery in the village anyway .
cambodia should raise this issue with UNSC against and let the UN know cambodia is not happy with thailand .
a couple years a go when thai soldiers stepped on the landmines thai made it an big issues even thai well deep in cambodia territory.
L'ambassadeur thailandais avait dit que l'armée Siem utilisait les Custer -bombe en légitime défense !!!
Même un ambassadeur parle comme un enfant ! pourquoi pas une bombe atomique en cas de légitime défense ?
La Thailande ne respecte rien , encore moins la convention internationale !
CMC doit la convoquer et annoncer au Monde entier la violation du droit international de la Thailande .
C'est la lâcheté de la part de la Thailande . Ce pays ne respecte rien
, ni le traité(traité franco-siamois) , ni leurs signatures(ASEAN) .
Comment on peut tenir compte de leurs engagements.
Et ces bombies ! qui vont ramasser maintenant ? c'est encore nos enfants du village , des paysans qui vont se payer de leurs vies ,de leurs handicaps moteurs !
C'est l'attitude irresponsable du gouvernement thailandais !!
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