The Ministry of Defense on Friday hit back at Thai claims that
Cambodia violated the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines after three Thai
border rangers were seriously injured in a mine explosion on the Thai
side of the border near Preah Vihear province Tuesday.
On Thursday, The Bangkok Post quoted Thai military spokesman Winthai
Surawee as saying that Vietnamese mines newly planted by Cambodian
forces were responsible for the blast, which cost one of the Thai
rangers his leg.
The Ministry of Defense in Phnom Penh denied the claim that its forces had laid new mines.
“The publication…quoted a military spokesman…who accused Cambodia
without foundation and confused national and international opinions,”
the Defense Ministry’s statement said, adding that it was “very sad”
that such allegations had been made, to the detriment of peacekeeping
efforts in the previously restive border area.
“The spokesman of the Ministry of Defense declares that we deny and
condemn the accusation of the Thai military spokesman, which lacks
foundation, and accuses Cambodia of using [TMN1] landmines produced by
Vietnam,” the statement adds.
Reached by telephone on Friday, Cambodian Defense Minister General
Tea Banh said the statement was intended to disseminate Cambodia’s
innocence and response to Thailand far and wide.
“We broadcast the statement to let the world know,” Gen. Banh said.
“We posted it online through the Council of Ministers. We sent it
everywhere. We issued the letter because the newspaper did not report
the truth.”
Neang Phat, a secretary of state at the Defense Ministry, said the
Thai claim of planting mines, “was not right, so we responded.”
According to Bangkok Post report, the mine blast occurred in
Thailand’s Surin province and involved a TMN1 landmine. A second report
on Friday accused Cambodia of newly laying the Vietnamese-made mines,
which were apparently found 1 meter over the border.
In its rebuttal, Cambodia flatly denied flouting the Ottawa Treaty,
which it ratified in 1999 and prohibits countries from stockpiling and
using the deadly weapons.
“Cambodia has tried to fulfill its mission, not only implementing the
Ottawa Convention, but also campaigning against the use of landmines,”
the Defense Ministry said in its rebuttal statement.
3 comments:
khmer's governemts needs n demand apology from thai
khmer can't just hit back the accusation,
also, demanded apology from thai
thailand, needs to apology to cambodia n vietnam
That public apology will never happen. Siam are always too arrogan. Siam in their beliefs is that they are superior in wealths, class, academic than Khmers. These are what most Siam were taught in school and at home. They truely believed their fake history.
Post a Comment