Experts: Landmines in Thai-Cambodia Clash Likely Newly Laid PMN2s

Landmine Incident and Expert Analysis

• 💥 On July 16th, a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine near the Thai-Cambodia border, an incident that sparked a 5-day conflict and a diplomatic dispute.
• 🔍 Four independent experts, reviewing visual material from Thai military and Reuters, concluded that the PMN2 landmines depicted were freshly laid.
• 🎯 One expert noted clues suggesting deliberate placement on patrol paths, with one cluster designed to harm multiple individuals.

Accusations and Denials

• 🇹🇭 Thailand accuses Cambodia of laying Soviet-era PMN2 anti-personnel mines, which both nations have pledged not to use.
• 🇰🇭 Cambodia denies these accusations, suggesting the mines could be older ordnance from its civil war or of American, Chinese, or Vietnamese origin.
• 🗣️ Cambodia's mine action authority stated the July 16th mine was not a PMN2, citing preliminary assessment of injury patterns.

Mine Types and Legacy

• 💡 The PMN2 is a Soviet-era anti-personnel mine, and experts identified unique fragments from the July 16th incident consistent with this type.
• ⚠️ Cambodia's mine action authority questioned the conclusiveness of visual appearance alone, citing erosion and vegetation that can make old mines appear fresh.
• 🌍 Cambodia has a history of extensive landmine contamination, with efforts to clear over 1,200 square miles since 1991, yet PMN2s remain a significant threat, with over 1,800 found and deactivated in the past two years.