Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Cluster Munition Use After Border Clashes

VIENTIANE, Sept 21, 2026 (KPT) — A senior Cambodian mine‑action official has accused Thailand of undermining the spirit of the international treaty banning cluster munitions, after unexploded ordnance was found on Cambodian territory following border clashes last year. Ly Thuch, First Vice‑President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), made the remarks during talks with Tamar Gabelnick, director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines‑Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL‑CMC), on Sept 15 in Vientiane. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Thuch said the alleged use of cluster munitions in Cambodia represented “an attack on the spirit and essence” of the convention and posed new risks for civilians. He urged the ICBL‑CMC to intensify advocacy against the weapons, stressing that protecting civilian lives must remain the priority. Cambodian authorities said unexploded M‑series cluster munitions were discovered in border areas after fighting in July and December 2025. Technical assessments by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre identified M42, M46 and M85 submunitions among those found. Officials said the devices remain highly dangerous, particularly for children and farmers, with 10 civilians injured so far. Ly Thuch warned the contamination undermines decades of clearance work and adds to Cambodia’s humanitarian burden. He said the country is seeking continued assistance from international partners with expertise and resources to support clearance operations. Cambodia has spent more than three decades removing explosive remnants of war, releasing thousands of square kilometres of land. Officials said the new contamination highlights the need for stronger international cooperation to eliminate cluster munitions and uphold humanitarian principles.