Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, July 23 (Xinhua) — Thailand downgraded its diplomatic ties with Cambodia on Wednesday after a landmine incident in a border area injured Thai soldiers, with the Cambodian side rejecting Thailand's accusations.
Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Vechayachai ordered the downgrading of diplomatic relations, the recall of the Thai ambassador to Cambodia and the expulsion of the Cambodian ambassador, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.
“Thailand will continue to consider the level of bilateral relations with Cambodia,” the document says.
In addition, Phumtham Vechayachai instructed the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a note of protest to Cambodia in connection with the incident.
Five soldiers were injured in a mine explosion while patrolling the border area, including one with serious leg injuries, the Thai army said. Three Thai soldiers were also injured in a similar mine explosion near the disputed area last week.
Thai officials said the mines had been planted only recently and accused Cambodia of violating the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention).
The situation on the Thai-Cambodian border remains tense since a brief exchange of fire between the two sides in the disputed border area in late May left a Cambodian soldier dead.
Cambodia on Wednesday rejected Thai allegations that Thai troops were injured in a landmine explosion, saying the incident occurred because the Thai side deviated from mutually agreed patrol routes.
As Deputy Secretary of State and spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense Lieutenant General Mali Socheata indicated, the defense ministry completely rejects the baseless accusations made by the Thai side in connection with the injury of five Thai soldiers due to a mine explosion on July 23.
“Cambodia has repeatedly reminded the Thai side of the presence of large numbers of uncleared mines and explosive remnants of war in these areas and called on the Thai side to avoid violating mutually agreed patrol routes as stipulated in the 2000 memorandum of understanding,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Mali Socheata added that the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces reaffirm their full support for the Cambodian government's position on resolving the border issue with Thailand through peaceful means and based on international law. –0–
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