Will the recent border incident derail the peace pact?

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Recent Border Incident Suspends Cambodian-Thai Peace Pact Implementation

Cambodia has denied allegations of planting new landmines following a recent border explosion that injured three Thai soldiers, leading Thailand to suspend the implementation of a recently signed peace pact. The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed the blast to old mines from previous conflicts and reaffirmed its commitment to peace, while Thailand cited the incident as grounds for halting the agreement and cancelling a planned prisoner release.
Cambodian Denial of New Landmines

Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has categorically denied accusations that its troops laid new landmines along the Thai border. The ministry stated that the explosion in the Huai Ta Maria area of Si Sa Ket province, which injured three Thai soldiers, was caused by "old mines dating back to previous conflicts." This assertion is based on the understanding that numerous minefields from Cambodia's civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s remain uncleared due to challenging terrain and undemarcated border regions.
Thailand's Suspension of Peace Pact

Following the border incident, Thailand announced the suspension of a peace pact that had been signed just two weeks prior. According to Cambodian authorities, Bangkok cited yesterday's explosion near the Phnom Trop area, close to Preah Vihear Temple, as the reason for this decision. The suspension also includes the cancellation of the planned release of 18 detained Cambodian soldiers, which was part of the agreement.
Cambodia's Reaffirmation of Commitment

Despite the current halt in the peace process, Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to the Joint Declaration signed on October 26. The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described this declaration as "widely applauded by the international community" and reiterated the country's adherence to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Cambodia explicitly stated, "Cambodia has never used new landmines and will never do so."

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Will the recent border incident derail the peace pact?

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