Smugglers, Villagers Snared by Mines Amid Thailand-Cambodia Demining Deadlock

On June 12, 2024, near Ban Nong Chan in eastern Thailand, a Chinese national was grievously wounded by a landmine. This episode sheds light on the enduring threat of unexploded ordnance in Sa Kaeo’s borderlands, ties to cross-border crime and the diplomatic impasse over mine clearance.

A recurring hazard on the eastern frontier

The boundary between Thailand and Cambodia has long been stained by landmine contamination left over from decades of conflict. In Khok Sung District, military patrols and rural villagers alike navigate fields still peppered with deadly devices. Despite Thailand deploying specialized teams to sweep nearly 382,000 square meters of suspected ground this year, pockets of PMN-2 anti-personnel mines remain active, obstructing local agriculture and daily life.

Investigations point to organized smuggling

Authorities believe the wounded man was part of an illegal border crossing network linked to online fraud rings operating out of Phnom Penh. Sa Kaeo Immigration Police report that such tunnels through the jungle have become crime corridors, facilitating not only human trafficking but also cyber scams that defraud victims across Asia. Major General Winthai Suwaree noted that these unauthorized routes often overlap with minefields, turning criminals into unwilling victims.

Diplomatic standoff over mine clearance

Bangkok has repeatedly offered to conduct joint demining operations under the Ottawa Convention, to which both Thailand and Cambodia are parties. Phnom Penh insists that remaining ordnance dates back to the civil war era of the 1970s and refuses to acknowledge any new mines. This polite yet firm refusal has stalled the work of the Joint Coordination Task Force and frustrated Thai appeals at ASEAN forums to break the impasse.

Casualties and clearance: a complex challenge

Since 2020, data from the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs records more than 600 casualties along this border zone. Thai explosive ordnance disposal units have neutralized over 900 devices this year alone, while Cambodian teams under the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) have cleared nearly 44,000 items across 14,400 hectares. Nevertheless, fresh incidents—like the recent injury near Ban Nong Chan—underscore the unpredictability and human cost of incomplete clearance.

Looking ahead: bridging security and humanitarian needs

Experts argue that resolving the landmine crisis requires clarity on border demarcation and a renewed ASEAN-mediated framework. Mapping technologies and joint patrols could build trust, while targeted funding from international donors would support both nations’ demining budgets. For farmers in rural Sa Kaeo and Surin, safe land is not just an aspiration but a lifeline for livelihoods and cross-border harmony.