09/10/2025
Cambodia Asks Thai Task Force to Postpone Planned Demining at Border Villages
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s 51st Infantry Brigade has requested Thailand’s Burapha Task Force to postpone planned demining activities at Chouk Chey village.
In a statement issued on October 9, Brigadier General Sing Tum, commander of the 51st Infantry Brigade, said that the Burapha Task Force’s notification of demining operations scheduled for October 10 at Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages does not align with the spirit of the agreement reached during the First Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on September 10. That meeting outlined principles for joint humanitarian demining along the border areas.
“The Cambodian side therefore requests the Burapha Task Force to suspend the planned activities and to comply with the agreed framework, pending further decisions from higher authorities and in accordance with the Joint Coordinating Task Force’s (JCTF) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP),” the statement said.
Although both sides agreed to conduct joint demining following the establishment of the JCTF on September 24, discussions have so far been held only twice, and the SOP for implementing joint operations has yet to be finalized as of October 9.
This means the JCTF must continue its talks to reach consensus on the identification of priority areas and pilot sites for humanitarian demining.
Brigadier General Sing Tum expressed hope that the Burapha Task Force would acknowledge Cambodia’s position and provide constructive cooperation moving forward.
