Cambodian 51st Infantry Brigade Requests Thai Counterpart to Halt Unilateral Demining Operations Pending Joint Agreement
Cambodian 51st Infantry Brigade Requests Thai Counterpart to Halt Unilateral Demining Operations Pending Joint Agreement
Banteay Meanchey, 9 October 2025 — The 51st Infantry Brigade of the Army Region 5 of the Kingdom of Cambodia has officially issued a letter to the Burapha Task Force of the Kingdom of Thailand, responding to the Thai side’s notice concerning planned demining operations in border areas between Chouk Chey Village (Cambodia) opposite Nong Chan Village (Thailand), and Prey Chan Village (Cambodia) opposite Nong Ya Keo Village (Thailand).
In its response, the Cambodian side recalled that under Point 6 of the Agreed Minutes of the First Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC), held on 10 September 2025, both sides agreed that all Humanitarian Demining operations along the Cambodia–Thailand border shall be implemented gradually and jointly, in accordance with mutually agreed procedures.
According to the 51st Infantry Brigade, the process includes three essential steps:
1. Establishment of the Joint Coordinating Task Force (JCTF) — officially announced on 24 September 2025;
2. Development of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) — which both sides have already exchanged and revised twice, with the second JCTF meeting held via video conference on 9 October 2025, yielding positive and productive outcomes;
3. Identification of priority areas and pilot sites for humanitarian demining, to be discussed after the SOP enters into effect.
The Brigade emphasized that the demining operation announced by the Burapha Task Force, scheduled for 10 October 2025, contradicts the spirit and framework of the GBC agreement reached on 10 September 2025.
Therefore, the 51st Infantry Brigade formally requested the Burapha Task Force to halt all planned activities mentioned in its notice No. 0481.2/602 dated 8 October 2025, and to await further instruction from higher authorities in line with the JCTF’s Standard Operating Procedures.
The Brigade reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to cooperation and mutual respect, expressing confidence that the Thai counterpart would uphold the agreed principles and work together in good faith to ensure smooth and coordinated progress toward humanitarian demining along the shared border.
