Cambodia Condemns Thailand's Cluster Bomb Use, Urges Global Ban

Cambodia has announced that Thai forces used cluster bombs on Cambodian territory, both in combat zones and civilian areas, in 2025, highlighting the long-term threat posed by these weapons. Speaking as a victim country of cluster bombs, Deputy Prime Minister Ly Thuch, First Vice Chairman of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority, declared Cambodia's firm opposition to the use of such weapons and strongly urged the international community to immediately cease the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs worldwide. These remarks were made during a visit to inspect the research and demining activities of the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) in Koun Mom district, Ratanakiri province. Ly Thuch stated that Cambodia, having been severely affected by cluster bombs, understands the suffering, loss of life, disabilities, and impacts on people's livelihoods. He recalled that the attack by Thai soldiers in 2025, which targeted both combat and civilian areas, posed a long-term threat to the lives of Cambodian citizens and added an extra burden to the Royal Government of Cambodia. Cambodia called on the international community to jointly end the use of cluster bombs, strengthen cooperation in clearing explosive remnants of war, support victims, and ensure that citizens, especially women and children, can live safely, with dignity, and without fear of danger from explosive remnants. Simultaneously, Cambodia is committed to accelerating the clearance of cluster bombs, strengthening risk education, victim assistance, and community development to ensure no citizen is harmed by cluster bombs. Approximately 644 square kilometers of land still require demining. On behalf of the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, the Deputy Prime Minister highly valued the cooperation with NPA and expressed his profound gratitude to the United States and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) for their support of cluster bomb research and clearance in Ratanakiri province since 2013. Ly Thuch added that Cambodia will participate in the Convention on Cluster Munitions meeting in Laos in September 2026 to share its progress and experiences, and to call for continued financial support from the international community and joint efforts to end the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs globally. Mr. Hans Peter Risser, Country Director of NPA, stated that NPA has been involved in humanitarian mine action in Cambodia since 1993, including supporting the clearance of mines and explosive remnants of war, technical support, and human resource training. With support from the United States and NORAD since 2013, NPA has supported the research and clearance of cluster bombs in Ratanakiri province, covering over 40 square kilometers, identifying and destroying over 6,000 cluster bombs and other explosive remnants of war, directly benefiting over 30,000 people. Mr. Risser reaffirmed NPA's commitment to continue strengthening its partnership with Cambodia until it achieves its goal of being a country free from the impact of mines and explosive remnants of war.