Border Tensions and Landmine Controversy

 

 

Thailand has formally accused Cambodia of violating the Ottawa Treaty after discovering eight newly planted anti-personnel landmines in the Chong Bok area, deep within Thai territory. The Thai military claims the mines were freshly laid and not remnants from past conflicts, citing surface placement and lack of vegetation as evidence. Cambodia denies the allegations, suggesting the mines may be old or misattributed.

Both countries are signatories to the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use and stockpiling of such mines. Thailand is preparing a UN complaint, while Cambodian officials call for an ICJ investigation, arguing the accusations are politically motivated.

While Cambodia has raised concerns over Thai Cluster Munitions dropped in F16 air strikes. And even rather silly attempts to smear Thailand for using poison gas or bio/chemical weapons - the former a rather shoddy photoshop of a USA wildfire plane in California tweeted by the Khmer PM wife.

Myanmar Drones and Thai Airspace

A kamikaze drone believed to be operated by Myanmar’s military crashed in Tak province, Thailand, prompting a formal protest via the Thai-Myanmar Border Committee. The drone, designed to detonate on impact, was reportedly used in strikes against Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) positions near the border.

Thailand’s military has expressed concern over its lagging drone capabilities, especially as Myanmar ramps up its arsenal with help from China and Russia. The incident underscores growing regional anxieties over cross-border drone warfare and the need for ASEAN reform to address emerging threats.

Deep South Bombings and Insurgency

Thailand’s Deep South continues to face insurgent violence. In Narathiwat, a coordinated attack involving gunfire, grenades, and a car bomb targeted a district office, killing two defence volunteers and injuring several civilians. Additional bombs exploded near railway tracks and shopping centres, while a separate roadside blast in Pattani killed three and wounded others.

These attacks coincide with the expiration of the Tak Bai massacre statute of limitations, fuelling speculation that insurgents are retaliating against perceived impunity for past abuses. Human Rights Watch has condemned the violence as war crimes, while also urging accountability for Thai security forces accused of past abuses.

The major insurgent attacks in Thailand’s Deep South occurred on March 9, 2025, when separatist militants targeted the Su Ngai Kolok district office in Narathiwat province. The assault involved assault rifles, grenades, and a car bomb, killing two defence volunteers and injuring several others. Additional bombs exploded near railway tracks and a shopping mall shortly afterward, and a separate attack in Pattani’s Sai Buri district killed one soldier.

There were also related incidents in October 2024, timed around the expiration of the Tak Bai massacre statute of limitations, which many believe triggered symbolic retaliatory violence.

ASEAN Diplomacy and Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Bangkok hope to revisit the stalled Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar’s civil war with 13k dead - the largest toll after Ukraine and Gaza. With China increasingly involved—urging ceasefires and backing junta elections—ASEAN faces pressure to reform its non-interference policy and play a more assertive role in regional peacebuilding.

A good place to start would be opening up all 10 states armouries for a clean slate review on weapons such as Landmines and even White Phosphorous.




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