The contamination along Thailand’s eastern border was not the result of a Thai conflict. Rather it was the past conflicts between Cambodian Communists, the Khmer Rouge, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 1979, Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia to bring down the ruthless Khmer Rouge regime. The Khmer Rouge then withdrew to positions along the Thai border

This terrain was controlled through mine warfare. This ill-defined border area was the scene of numerous Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge engagements, many within the borders of Thailand. Thousands of mines and UXO still litter the border paddy fields.

The daily routines of a child playing and a farmer cultivating his fields have become life-threatening activities. It is estimated that mines and UXO cause 120 casualties each year. The majority of casualties are children and farmers. Although these casualty statistics are relatively low in comparison to those of other mine effected countries, they also are low due to the resolve of the Thai government, military and provincial leaders to educate the endangered populace.

Thai military units travel through their respective 18 provinces in an attempt to educate the people about the hazards of mines and UXO. Without formal training, they respond to the scene of mine incidents. Using antiquated equipment, they clear a path to the civilian casualties and recover them to safety. If they are lucky, they can save an individual’s life, but usually only after a life altering injury has been sustained. Last year, the Thai military suffered 44 casualties of their own in attempts to save civilian lives.

Thailand’s National Mine Action Committee was appointed in August 1998. The committee was formed to address the land mine and UXO issue under the direction of the Prime Minister and the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defense.

Thailand became a signatory of the Ottawa Convention that banned land mines, 3 December 1998. To demonstrate their commitment to the Ottawa Convention, Thailand began the destruction of 10,000 stockpiled mines on 1 May 1999 at Lopburi.