Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense says a team of ASEAN observers suspended a planned ceasefire verification mission in Pursat Province after a powerful explosion was heard on the Thai side of the border. The team, coordinated by Cambodian defense officials, had travelled to Chak Cha One in Thmor Da commune on November 19 to monitor adherence to a recently agreed ceasefire.
According to the ministry, the observers decided to withdraw immediately for safety reasons after the blast occurred near the border area inside Thailand.
Thai newspaper Khaosod reported that Thammanoon Wanna, the commander of the Thai Marine Corps in Trat Province, rejected Cambodia’s account. He accused Phnom Penh of escorting what he called a fake ASEAN Observer Team to the border in an attempt to blame Thai forces for the explosion. Thammanoon alleged that Cambodia staged the incident, including what he described as rocket fire, to tarnish Thailand’s reputation.
He said he had been inspecting the area for mine clearance operations when about thirty Cambodian villagers, wearing blue hats, gathered nearby. He claimed he used binoculars and launched a drone from the Thai side to monitor the situation. Shortly afterward, a loud explosion was heard. He called it a tactic used to spread disinformation and portray Thailand as a violator of the ceasefire.
Thammanoon said that if the group had truly been an official ASEAN Observer Team, they would have approached the border directly and requested formal access to inspect the situation.
Cambodian political geographer Yang Peou offered a different assessment. Writing on Facebook, he argued that the explosion on the Thai side, timed with the presence of ASEAN observers, effectively served as evidence of Thailand breaching the ceasefire. He said Thailand has escalated its rhetoric in recent months, including what he described as unprecedented insults and provocations toward Cambodia.
He cited claims of Thai troops mistreating Cambodian women, encouraging Thai activists to spray wastewater on Cambodian civilians, and, in separate incidents, Thai soldiers allegedly shooting Cambodian villagers in Prey Chan and Chouk Chey. He also accused Thailand of spreading disinformation while detaining Cambodian troops unlawfully.
Neither government has issued an independent investigation into the explosion, and tensions along the border remain high.
