Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampoj said yesterday that the country is in the process of gathering evidence to pursue potential legal actions at both domestic and international levels against Cambodian officials concerning border clashes.
Maris made these remarks ahead of his trip to the Surin province alongside acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Fumtham Wechayachai to assess the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border. They are also overseeing a rear area protection plan and collecting additional evidence on-site, as reported by a local newspaper.
He indicated that domestic legal measures would follow Thailand’s legal proceedings, while the international case is still under review. Maris noted that international legal actions involve numerous levels and procedural requirements. Despite Thailand having substantial evidence, international courts dealing with war crimes necessitate comprehensive documentation, making it crucial to gather as much material as possible.
In a related incident, three Thai soldiers were injured yesterday due to a landmine explosion during a patrol near the border with Cambodia.
According to a statement from the Royal Thai Army, the explosion occurred in the Sisaket Province. Army spokesperson Wentai Suvaree remarked that the landmine detonation suggests covert use of arms by Cambodian forces, emphasizing that this incident poses a serious obstacle to achieving a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The Thai Foreign Ministry has accused Cambodia of planting new landmines and announced plans to file a formal protest.