Tension between Thailand and Cambodia has reached breaking point after Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister announced the recall of the country’s ambassador to Cambodia following injuries to five more Thai military personnel by landmines along the Thai-Cambodian border.

On Thursday (24 July), a clash was reported between Thai and Cambodian troops in the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple. Both troops traded accusations over who initiated the confrontation. Meanwhile, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities.

Previously, Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced on Wednesday (23 July) that Thailand will downgrade diplomatic ties with Cambodia. The Thai ambassador to Cambodia will be recalled, while Thailand will also expel the Cambodian ambassador to Thailand.

The announcement followed a fresh landmine dispute where five Thai army personnel were injured by a landmine during a patrol on Wednesday (23 July) in the disputed Huai Bon area located in Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen District, resulting in one soldier, Sergeant Phichitchai Boonkorat, losing his right leg.

Meanwhile, four others experienced chest tightness and tinnitus due to  blast concussion. They are now being treated at Nam Yuen Hospital.

This was the second landmine incident, which escalated tension between the two countries. Three Thai Army Personnel were injured last week when one of them stepped on a landmine along the undemarcated Thai-Cambodian border at Chong Bok pass. One of the personnel, Private Thanapat Huaiwan, sustained a serious injury to his left leg, which had to be amputated.

The Deputy Prime Minister also revealed that it has been verified that the anti-personnel landmines were newly laid, which constituted a violation of the Ottawa Treaty. On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally lodged a protest with the Cambodian Embassy.

Tension has been brewing in the Chong Bok area since 28 May, after a clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiersstationed at the border. While Thailand insisted on pursuing bilateral negotiations through the existing Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) mechanism, Cambodia announced that it is taking the cases of the Emerald Triangle and of the Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Tot and Ta Kwai temples before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Thailand has repeatedly asserted that it has not accepted the ICJ’s jurisdiction since 1960.

In response to the incident that occurred on Wednesday, the Royal Thai Army issued an English-language statement condemning the Cambodian side for the incident involving the covert placement of landmines in the border area of Chong An Ma.

“The Royal Thai Army strongly condemns this inhumane act that violates international humanitarian principles and international agreements, occurring within the Kingdom of Thailand's territory due to actions by the Cambodian side, and calls upon the Cambodian side to take responsibility for this incident, which constitutes a serious threat to peace and stability in the border region between the two countries,” said the statement.

The 2nd Army Region also announced the closure of four border crossings in Surin, Sri Saket, and Buriram, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, as well as the tourist attractions of Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai temples. The order is effective from Thursday (24 July).

Meanwhile, the Cambodian Defence Ministry stated that Cambodia has repeatedly warned Thailand that the area in question still contained numerous unexploded landmines left over from past wars, urging Thailand to respect the agreement on patrol routes as outlined in the MoU 2000 between the two countries.

Rollercoaster relations

Diplomatic relations between the two countries in recent times have fluctuated. Their ties were severed on two occasions, in 1958 and 1961, due to the Preah Vihear Temple dispute.

In addition to these two incidents, Thailand and Cambodia also downgraded diplomatic ties following the arson attack on the Royal Thai embassy in 2003, which stemmed from media reports in Cambodia falsely alleging that Thai actress Suvanant Kongying had made defamatory remarks about the Cambodian people. Thailand recalled all its envoys and expelled those of Cambodia.

In 2009, Thailand recalled the Thai ambassador to Cambodia after Cambodia appointed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor to its government. Cambodia later issued a statement, terminating Thaksin's advisory role. At the same time, it also recalled its ambassador to Thailand.