Phnom penh: The National Security Council (NSDC) has reported allegations against Cambodia for orchestrating a campaign that involves children and youth to create an image surrounding the landmine issue. According to the report, the Cambodian campaign utilizes communities, including the elderly and disabled, as a base to address concerns about PMN-2 landmines, raising questions of human rights violations and reiterating Thailand's commitment to safeguarding children's rights globally.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Maratee Nalita Andamo, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in her role with the Special Task Force for the Administration of the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation (SFSB), disclosed on the SFSB's Facebook page that a video clip featuring Cambodian children discussing PMN-2 landmines has surfaced. The clip allegedly exploits children and youth by involving them in discussions of violence. Thailand has condemned the use of civilians, especially vulnerable groups like children, youth, women, and the disabled, as tools in conflict situations, whether through weapons, digital platforms, or educational contexts.
Ms. Maratee criticized these actions as dehumanizing and highlighted that children and youth are being pushed to the frontlines, a role for which they are neither suited nor deserving. She referenced past incidents where Cambodian soldiers used community areas, including Ban Nong Chan in Sa Kaeo Province, as bases, placing vulnerable groups at the frontlines with barbed wire deployed. This behavior, according to Ms. Maratee, reflects a disregard for responsibility and equates to using the nation's future to obscure adult accountability.
She further affirmed Thailand's dedication to protecting the rights of children and women on the international stage, stating that such violations are intolerable as they contravene the principles enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and related human rights obligations. They also infringe on international humanitarian law and basic common sense. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), is actively monitoring the situation and intends to pursue action through various treaty mechanisms. They aim to galvanize the international community to demand an end to the exploitation of children in such scenarios.