Varawut Thailand’s Minister of Social Development Condemns Attacks on Civilians at Thai-Cambodian Border

Brickinfo News Agency – Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) has issued a strong condemnation of recent attacks targeting civilians along the Thai-Cambodian border. These actions, which include the deployment of landmines and direct assaults on civilian areas, are deemed a severe violation of international humanitarian law and have had a profound impact on vulnerable populations, social welfare, and human security in the region. The Ministry highlighted the tragic loss of life, including children, and the numerous injuries sustained by innocent individuals.

On July 25, 2025, Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security, released a statement on behalf of the Ministry, expressing profound sorrow and solidarity with the victims and their families. The statement detailed two distinct incidents, beginning with the planting of anti-personnel landmines on Thai soil on July 16 and 23, 2025. These landmines resulted in severe injuries to Thai military personnel, with two soldiers losing their legs. The violence escalated on July 24, 2025, when civilian areas, including convenience stores and hospitals, were targeted without warning, resulting in a significant loss of life and numerous injuries.

The attacks on July 24 claimed the lives of 13 individuals, including two 9-year-old boys and one 15-year-old girl. More than 30 people were injured. The Ministry emphasized that these victims were not engaged in combat but were leading ordinary lives when they were killed or maimed. The statement described the attacks as “a crime against human dignity,” asserting that they have destroyed the sense of security among ordinary citizens and instilled fear in previously peaceful communities.

The MSDHS explicitly condemned these acts as a direct aggression against Thailand’s sovereignty and a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The Ministry urged Cambodia to adhere to its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, the Ottawa Convention on Landmines, Article 38 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Articles 10 and 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Political Declaration of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which calls for the protection of women and children in conflict zones. Thailand is calling on the international community not to remain silent in the face of such atrocities, stating that “silence is complicity.” The Ministry concluded its statement by demanding that Cambodia immediately cease its aggression, respect Thai sovereignty, and take full responsibility for the irreversible damage inflicted upon innocent people.