The Navy condemns Cambodia for serious violations of international humanitarian law by secretly placing mines modified from artillery shell heads, connected by wiring arranged to detonate simultaneously in the Ban Sam Lang area.
On 19 Dec 2025, Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiphan, Navy spokesperson, stated that he condemns the actions of Cambodian military forces who clandestinely laid numerous modified anti-personnel mines in the operational base area of Ban Nong Ri (Ban Sam Lang), Chamrak Subdistrict, Trat Province, which is Thai territory. This act seriously violates international humanitarian law principles.
The Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command (CTBDC) successfully regained control of the area and expelled Cambodian forces on 18 Dec. The Navy's Mine Clearance Unit, together with engineers from CTBDC, conducted searches and mine clearance at the former Cambodian stronghold. They uncovered alarming evidence including: 1. Cambodian-language documents detailing the use and characteristics of PMN-2 and POMZ-2 anti-personnel mines; 2. Three improvised explosive devices (IEDs); 3. Over 340 abandoned weapons and explosives; 4. 105mm artillery shell heads modified into anti-personnel mines with electric detonators, wired to simultaneous detonation points.
The Navy spokesperson said the pattern of these modified anti-personnel mines clearly indicates Cambodian military intent to cause severe harm to Thai soldiers and potentially affect civilians indiscriminately, violating basic principles of international humanitarian law and related treaties prohibiting anti-personnel mines.
Furthermore, the evidence found represents only a fraction of what the mine clearance team detected and defused; many more mines are believed still buried in the area. Such actions are unacceptable in the international community. The Navy calls on Cambodia to take responsibility for these acts and immediately cease any actions threatening the lives of military personnel and innocent civilians.