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• 1 hour ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
CMAC Briefs ASEAN Observers and Military Attachés on Thai Cluster Bomb Contamination
PHNOM PENH, August 31, 2026 – The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has presented a comprehensive briefing on the impact of explosive remnants of war left by Thai forces on Cambodian territory following the 2025 conflict, revealing that more than 295,000 hectares of land are contaminated by cluster munitions.
The briefing was delivered by CMAC Director General Heng Ratana at CMAC headquarters in Phnom Penh to 37 ASEAN Observer Team members led by Commodore Glenn Z. Dizon of the Philippines, and 16 foreign military attachés from the United States, China, France, India, Japan, Australia, Russia, South Korea, and ASEAN member states, led by U.S. Military Attaché Colonel Kyle Saltzman.
The event was organized and chaired by Lieutenant Genera lPHAT Vibolsopheak, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs and Director of the International Relations Department at the Ministry of National Defence.
The 2025 Thai invasion, which occurred in two phases (July 24–28 and December 7–27), directly affected 60 communes and 349 villages across seven provinces: Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, and Koh Kong. More than 640,000 civilians were displaced.
Photo: មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសកម្មភាពកំចាត់មីនកម្ពុជា - CMAC
CMAC has completed information surveys in 335 of the 349 affected villages, identifying a total of 386,880 hectares of contaminated land across 5,409 polygons. Of this, more than 295,096 hectares are contaminated by cluster munitions.
The war also caused extensive damage to homes, schools, and ancient temples. Researchers have collected more than 16,000 eyewitness testimonies documenting the violations and destruction.
— Source: Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The briefing was delivered by CMAC Director General Heng Ratana at CMAC headquarters in Phnom Penh to 37 ASEAN Observer Team members led by Commodore Glenn Z. Dizon of the Philippines, and 16 foreign military attachés from the United States, China, France, India, Japan, Australia, Russia, South Korea, and ASEAN member states, led by U.S. Military Attaché Colonel Kyle Saltzman.
The event was organized and chaired by Lieutenant Genera lPHAT Vibolsopheak, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs and Director of the International Relations Department at the Ministry of National Defence.
The 2025 Thai invasion, which occurred in two phases (July 24–28 and December 7–27), directly affected 60 communes and 349 villages across seven provinces: Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, and Koh Kong. More than 640,000 civilians were displaced.
Photo: មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសកម្មភាពកំចាត់មីនកម្ពុជា - CMACCMAC has completed information surveys in 335 of the 349 affected villages, identifying a total of 386,880 hectares of contaminated land across 5,409 polygons. Of this, more than 295,096 hectares are contaminated by cluster munitions.
The war also caused extensive damage to homes, schools, and ancient temples. Researchers have collected more than 16,000 eyewitness testimonies documenting the violations and destruction.
— Source: Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
