CMAC Reveals Scale of Thai Cluster Bomb Contamination to ASEAN, Foreign Military Attachés

PHNOM PENH, August 31, 2026 – The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has briefed ASEAN observers and foreign military attachés on the extensive contamination caused by Thai cluster munitions during the 2025 conflict, with more than 295,000 hectares of Cambodian land still affected.

The presentation, delivered by CMAC Director General Heng Ratana at the organisation's headquarters, was attended by 37 ASEAN Observer Team members led by Commodore Glenn Z. Dizon of the Philippines, and 16 military attachés from the United States, China, France, India, Japan, Australia, Russia, South Korea, and other ASEAN nations, led by U.S. Military Attaché Colonel Kyle Saltzman.

Lieutenant General Phat 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, chaired the event.

The 2025 Thai invasion, which took place in two phases in July and December, affected 60 communes and 349 villages across seven provinces, displacing more than 640,000 civilians.

CMAC has completed surveys in 335 of 349 affected villages, identifying 386,880 hectares of contaminated land across 5,409 areas. Of this, more than 295,000 hectares are contaminated by cluster bombs.

The conflict also caused widespread damage to homes, schools, and ancient temples. Researchers have documented more than 16,000 eyewitness testimonies detailing the destruction.

— Source: Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)

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Reported by The Khmer Today