Veera Prateepchaikul
Bangkok Post
The disclosure by the Cluster Munitions Coalition that the Thai army used cluster munitions in recent border clashes with Cambodian forces may further dampen the strained relations between the two countries. Surprisingly, one Thai company has managed to weather all the political and military conflicts and perform remarkably well.
The Thai army top brass may have to cover their heads with buckets to hide their embarrassment – if they actually are embarrassed – after it was confirmed by an international non-governmental body that Thai artillery fired cluster shells into Cambodia during the border clashes in February.
The Cluster Munitions Coalition claimed Thailand had confirmed its findings to CMC officials at a meeting on Tuesday, acknowledging the first known use of such munitions since the ban came into force last August. The Thai army had constantly denied using cluster munitions.
Neither Thailand nor Cambodia are among the 108 countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but each of them is party to a 1997 landmine ban treaty. The convention bans production, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions – which disperse bomblets from the air over a wide area.
No comments:
Post a Comment