SA KAEO – A diplomatic standoff has intensified along the Thailand-Cambodia border after Cambodian authorities formally rejected Thailand’s unilateral plan to conduct landmine clearance operations in contested villages in Sa Kaeo province. The rejection has heightened military tensions in the area, with both sides reinforcing their positions near the disputed border.

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The focal point of the dispute is the area opposite Ban Nong Yakaew village in Khok Sung district, where Thai military forces recently installed barbed-wire fences. According to the Thai military’s official communications, an unusually large presence of Cambodian soldiers and heavy weaponry has been observed near the perimeter. This development follows a notification sent by Thai authorities to their Cambodian counterparts on Wednesday, informing them of planned demining activities in Nong Chan and Nong Yakaew villages, which Thailand claims as part of its sovereign territory.

Thailand’s First Army Area has mobilised crowd control and bomb disposal teams to secure Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew areas along the Thai-Cambodian border, ensuring safety and clearing unexploded ordnance. #Sakaeo #Cambodiahttps://t.co/AHJMJpqDFp

— Thenationthailand (@Thenationth) October 10, 2025

In a formal letter dated October 9, Cambodia’s 51st Infantry Brigade firmly rebuffed the proposed demining operation, stating that it contravenes agreements made during the first Special Meeting of the General Border Committee held on September 10. Cambodian officials emphasized that any humanitarian demining must be conducted under a mutually agreed framework, which includes the establishment of a Joint Coordinating Task Force, finalization of Standard Operating Procedures, and joint identification of priority zones—all of which remain incomplete.

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Meanwhile, the Thai-Cambodian Border Coordination Office notified Cambodia of a scheduled visit by an International Observer Team to monitor peace and order in Sa Kaeo province today. The communication stressed the importance of transparency and cooperation to prevent misunderstandings. As tensions simmer, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul chaired a National Security Council meeting attended by key ministers to assess the evolving situation. A Thai security source indicated that the government plans a phased approach to evict Cambodian settlers from the contested villages, beginning with the deployment of crowd control police, local officials, and unarmed soldiers.

-Thailand News (TN)