(Phnom Penh): Along the quiet stretch of the Cambodia–Thailand border, a single image suddenly surfaced across Thai media platforms. It depicted two individuals in Cambodian military uniforms kneeling beside a partially unearthed object next to two small tree trunks. The image was immediately circulated as breaking news in Bangkok, framed as “the discovery of a newly planted PMN-2 mine allegedly laid by Cambodia.”
At first glance, the photo seemed dramatic enough to ignite nationalist emotions. Yet a closer inspection reveals a very different story: a poorly executed piece of political theatre.
Controversy flared again when The Nation republished this mine-related photo—an image Cambodia had already rejected months earlier and labeled as fabricated evidence.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen responded sharply to the recycled accusation, describing the photo as the product of “technical incompetence” and exposing what he called the amateurish staging behind Thailand’s narrative.
He wrote beneath the photo: “Next time, please prepare the scenario properly—choose actors who know how to perform the correct gestures of mine-laying, and especially teach the cameraman how to capture the moment the ‘thief’ secretly plants the mine, so people will believe it.”
His pointed remark reflects what many observers immediately recognized: the so-called “evidence” lacks professionalism, credibility, and good faith, revealing Thailand’s attempt to weaponize misinformation amid growing political and military tension.
“Fresh Exclusive” analysis explains why Thailand has failed—again and again—to use this “mine narrative” as an informational weapon.
A reused photo repackaged as a “new discovery”
The first and most damaging flaw in Thailand’s accusation lies in the origin of the image. The exact same photo had surfaced months earlier and was already publicly debunked by Cambodia as “fake news.”
Everything in the photo—the surroundings, the posture of the uniformed individuals, the mine’s placement—matches the previous image. Presenting an old photo as “new evidence” not only destroys credibility but also reveals a deliberate attempt to manipulate public perception.
In today’s digital era, recycled images are quickly exposed. The real question is: Why would Thailand reuse an old, discredited photo?
This may signal carelessness or reflect Thailand’s increasing pressure to defend itself after multiple controversies:
• The illegal arrest of 18 Cambodian soldiers
• The shooting of Cambodian civilians
• Violations of the ceasefire and cross-border incursions
The landmine narrative has become a political tool—used by Thailand to distract the international community from its own unlawful actions on Cambodian soil and to shift its role from aggressor to “victim.”
A photo that collapses Thailand’s diplomatic posture
Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s remark—“Good acting, but lacking technique”—is more than a witty response. It dismantles Thailand’s political theatre by highlighting three major failures:
1. Incorrect mine-laying gestures
No trained soldier places a mine in the manner shown. The posture, procedure, and positioning contradict all standard military practices.
2. Absence of technical evidence required under the Ottawa Treaty
The photo has:
• no time stamp
• no GPS coordinates
• no metadata
• no sequence of images
• no forensic indicators
Under Article 8 of the Ottawa Convention, none of this qualifies as evidence. Even a casual observer can see it is political staging—not a legitimate discovery.
3. The photographer’s angle turns the accusation against Thailand itself
Samdech Techo’s comment—“…choose actors who know the gestures, and especially teach the cameraman how to film the thief planting the mine…”—makes one thing clear:
The photo is far removed from any real mine-planting scenario and fails to convince even the most neutral observer.
Instead of proving Cambodian wrongdoing, it exposes Thailand’s embarrassment in attempting to fabricate a case and redirect blame toward Cambodia.
Why Thailand is using landmines as a political weapon
The sudden resurrection of this old photo—showing the same two individuals kneeling beside the same buried object—appears crafted to achieve at least three strategic goals:
1. Deflect internal criticism after Thai soldiers were injured by mines they themselves stepped on.
2. Create border pressure amid Thailand’s unstable domestic political climate.
3. Divert attention in international forums, where Thailand faces tough questions regarding:
- the detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers
- shootings of Cambodian civilians
- repeated violations of Cambodian territory
But the strategy backfires. Using a previously debunked photo cannot serve as credible evidence. Instead, it damages Thailand’s reputation before:
• the United Nations,
• ASEAN, and
• fellow State Parties to the Ottawa Treaty.
Conclusion
The image Thailand used to distort the truth not only fails technical verification—it also exposes Thailand’s tendency to fabricate a narrative of victimhood while it is, in reality, the party violating Cambodian territory.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s firm and direct response highlights the essential point:
Thailand is attempting to use fabricated evidence, amplified through certain Thai media outlets, to deflect attention from its own cross-border aggression.
Thailand must understand that the world does not judge by accusations, but by evidence.
And in this case, the so-called “evidence of new mine-laying” has turned into a mirror—reflecting not Cambodian wrongdoing, but Thailand’s willingness to invent stories to conceal its own violations.
