Thai soldiers have uncovered compelling digital evidence implicating Cambodian troops in the deployment of anti-personnel landmines along the contested border, escalating tensions in a region marked by recent violence. As reported by Bangkok Post, and the Royal Thai Armed Headquarters facebook account, the discovery, made on August 19, 2025, claims to have found a Cambodian soldier’s phone, including video and audio content, with instructions on how to operate PMN-2 mines. If verified, this is a serious violation of international agreements. This comes amid a series of landmine incidents that have injured 13 Thai soldiers since July 2025, raising questions about ceasefire compliance and the Ottawa Convention.
Digital Evidence Sparks Controversy
On August 19, 2025, Thai Navy personnel from the Humanitarian Mine Action Unit’s Clearance Team 1, operating in Phu Makua, Sisaket province, discovered a mobile phone abandoned by Cambodian soldiers. The device contained video clips and photographs showing Cambodian troops handling PMN-2 anti-personnel landmines, alongside audio recordings in Khmer discussing their deployment along the Thai border. The Thai military reported that the files included precise timestamps, offering what they describe as “indisputable proof” of Cambodia’s violation of the July 29, 2025, ceasefire agreement and the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines.
The Thai armed forces, in a statement on August 19, 2025, emphasized the professionalism of the clearance team in securing and verifying the evidence before transferring it to Royal Thai Army units for further investigation. The findings have intensified Thailand’s accusations that Cambodia is covertly planting mines in Thai territory, a charge Cambodia denies, asserting that any mines are remnants from its civil war era (1970-1998). 
The Human Toll of Landmine Incidents
Since July 2025, landmine explosions have injured 13 Thai soldiers in border provinces, with severe consequences including amputations and long-term recovery challenges. The incidents, occurring in areas previously cleared by the Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) between 2020 and 2022, have fueled Thailand’s claims of new mine placements by Cambodia.
Below is a summary of the reported incidents:
| Date | Location | Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| July 16, 2025 | Ubon Ratchathani | Three soldiers injured; one lost a foot |
| July 23, 2025 | Ubon Ratchathani | Five soldiers injured; one lost a leg, others reported chest tightness and tinnitus |
| August 9, 2025 | Sisaket | Three soldiers injured; one lost a foot, one wounded in back and arm, one with ear damage |
| August 12, 2025 | Surin | One soldier injured; severe damage to left ankle |
These incidents, particularly the loss of limbs, have underscored the devastating human cost for Thai soldiers conducting routine patrols. The fact that these explosions occurred in previously cleared areas strengthens Thailand’s assertion that Cambodia is responsible for new mine placements, a claim supported by the recent digital evidence.
The PMN-2 Landmine: A Soviet-Era Threat
The landmines in question are PMN-2 anti-personnel blast mines, a Soviet-designed weapon mass-produced during the 1970s and 1980s. Measuring 120mm in diameter with a plastic casing and 100g of TNT/RDX, the PMN-2 is pressure-activated and difficult to detect due to its minimal metal content. Widely exported by the Soviet Union to allied nations, including Cambodia during its conflict-ridden decades, these mines remain in stockpiles despite discontinued production. The Thai military asserts that the 41 PMN-2 mines found between July 15 and August 12, 2025, are not part of Thailand’s arsenal, suggesting Cambodian forces as the source.
The PMN-2’s design makes it particularly dangerous, as its plastic casing evades standard metal detectors, posing a persistent threat to soldiers and civilians. Cambodia’s historical use of such mines during its civil war adds complexity to the dispute, as millions of unexploded ordnances remain scattered across the region.
Thailand’s Claims of Cambodian Mine Deployment
Thailand has accused Cambodia of planting PMN-2 mines in Thai territory both before and after the July 2025 clashes, which killed at least 43 people and displaced over 260,000. The first major incident followed a May 28, 2025, clash that killed a Cambodian soldier, with Thailand reporting landmine injuries on July 16, 2025. Since the ceasefire on July 29, 2025, Thailand claims to have discovered 41 “new, ready-to-use” PMN-2 mines in areas like Ta Moan Thom and Phu Makua, supported by photographic evidence and the recent phone clips.
Cambodia, however, denies these allegations, insisting that Thai soldiers triggered legacy mines from its civil war by deviating from agreed patrol routes. Cambodian officials, cited in Khmer Times on August 15, 2025, argue that the country has cleared over 1 million mines and remains compliant with the Ottawa Convention. The lack of a joint investigation has hindered resolution, with Thailand pointing to the phone evidence as a critical development in proving Cambodia’s actions.
International Law and the Ottawa Convention
The discovery of digital evidence could bolster Thailand’s case before international bodies like the United Nations or the International Court of Justice. The Ottawa Convention, signed by both nations in 1997, prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. The phone clips, showing Cambodian soldiers handling PMN-2 mines with timestamps, provide Thailand with tangible evidence to argue that Cambodia has breached this treaty. Such a violation could prompt diplomatic sanctions or calls for further investigation by the UN.
Cambodia’s defense hinges on its claim that any mines are remnants from decades past, not new deployments. However, the timestamps and context of the phone clips challenge this narrative, as they suggest active mine placement post-ceasefire. Verifying the authenticity of the digital evidence will be critical, as Cambodia may argue that the clips lack context or could be manipulated, a common challenge in international disputes. Because the landmines date back to the Soviet era when they were made, Cambodia can plausibly deny their recent insertion. Whether or not these landmines were recently laid will be subject to any evidence and findings.
The Role of Digital Evidence in Modern Conflicts
The use of a mobile phone’s video and audio clips as evidence marks a significant shift in how conflicts are documented and prosecuted. Digital forensics, including timestamp analysis and metadata verification, can provide irrefutable proof of violations, but challenges remain in ensuring chain-of-custody integrity and countering claims of tampering. The Thai military’s prompt securing of the phone demonstrates the growing importance of technology in border disputes, where traditional evidence like physical mine fragments may be insufficient.
However, verifying such evidence in contested regions is fraught with difficulties. Without independent forensic analysis, Cambodia may dispute the clips’ authenticity, complicating efforts to hold parties accountable under international law. The case underscores the need for robust mechanisms to validate digital evidence in modern warfare.
As tensions persist, the international community faces the challenge of enforcing the ceasefire and addressing the humanitarian impact of landmines. Whether the digital evidence will shift the diplomatic balance remains uncertain, but it has undeniably intensified the scrutiny on Cambodia’s actions along the border.
