(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) Director General Heng Ratana said the Third Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane, Laos, reaffirmed the prohibition of cluster munitions and called for compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law.

In a social media post on Monday (Sep. 28), Heng Ratana cited CMAC research alleging that Thai forces used an estimated six to seven million M42, M46 and M85 cluster submunitions on Cambodian territory, affecting military and police personnel as well as civilian areas.

According to Heng Ratana, the affected areas span 349 villages, 335 of which have already been surveyed, covering nearly 300,000 hectares and affecting more than 90,000 families, or approximately 350,000 people.

He added that schools, hospitals, health centres, pagodas, farmland, homes and other civilian infrastructure were among the areas affected.

CMAC Director General Heng Ratana asserted that the alleged use of cluster munitions in Cambodia constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
=FRESH NEWS