Cambodia feedback to Thailand Reaction of Ottawa Treaty

In replying of Cambodian commission to Thailand reaction of mines bursting after the accusation, Cambodia expressed an intervention and reported with pictures and explained as words:

1. Regarding with the first accusation, Cambodia made sure that the event took place in Cambodia's land base on the international recognized mape which is 1.500 meters distance from the line border located in the unclearing mines field. This was already expressed by CMAC in 2004. The accusation was not the fact whic was stated Cambodia exist these mines, but Thailand itself had them according to the international institution which worked in this field. Specially, refering to TMAC itself also reported it had PMN-2 for 2.885.


2. Cambodia clearified clearly that place was absolutely not yet cleared refering to the state from Thailand with NGO who proofed landmine field was alredy cleared. CMAC and Halo Trust showed that seeking not reached to one Kilometer then found out the number of 9.448 mines with other not yet burst. And according to the Cambodian Red Cross reported in the late of the 10 years had 207 victims who suffered around that area. In addition to these, on the 21th November, 2008, Cambodia Ministry of affair sent an official letter to Thai government to show the evidents to Cambodia for the raising up of Thai stated that area had been cleared by TMAC with NGO along with a long live of its people.


3. Answering to the third raised up of Thai, Cambodai officials drew the main points for the convention into two points:
   

• The location is the tie of the problem. If Thai did not come to Cambodia land at that area, then they would not suffered like that, too.


• Cambodia government show the good model in the field of clearing mine in the world in case of Cambodia had movement and practise the Ottawa Treaty. In sort, The government had the policy and determine clearly to strengthen of practising the Ottawa Treaty with the discipline of the army to obey to the order of the government as well as the using and putting new mine can be done.

4. For the fourth accusation Cambodia stated base on the fact event that:

• On the 14th October Thai made press conference by inviting 68 embassies and charged Cambodian used new mines along the border


• On 16th Octobre the ministry of information made a press release rejected Thai accusationn. Cambodia sugguested the partner, Thai, to respect some agreements which these two countries have done especially regarding with the clearing mines along the border. Cambodia also stated its stand to practise and respect to Ottawa Treaty during that occassion.


• On 17th October, Thai issued a letter which was called Request for Clearification to Cambodia, and also on that day Cambodia made press conference to inform for the public to be aware of the stand of Cambodia and the accusation of Thai.


• On 20th October, Cambodia created an investigative committee to seek the truth forward what Thai has accused. On the same day, Thai issued an information note on a violation mine bane convention.
• On the 21st November, Cambodia of Ministry affair sent a letter to Thai partner to request Thai to give the detail about the accusation.
• The suspection from Thai to the Ministry had PMN-2 in the amount 3.405 left or hide, Cambodia committee has showed the meaning and pictures which proofed that all of them were cleared clearly under the participation of H.E Sor Keng and other representative embassy with other NGOs.

Source from CMAC/Heng Ratana