Bangkok: The Royal Thai Army has firmly countered Cambodia's assertion that Thai ammunition remains in its possession, stating that the test results do not align with technical data. The Army stressed the importance of accurate news reporting to aid the process of reducing international conflict.
According to Thai News Agency, the dispute arose following a Cambodian news report from the Cambodian Mine Action Unit (CMAC), which had released a document detailing the findings of its investigation into an explosion on October 25, 2025, in Chom Krasarn District, Preah Vihear Province. The tragic incident resulted in the death of a 10-year-old boy and severe injuries to his father. The CMAC's forensic examination concluded that the explosion was caused by an M-85 cluster bomb from an M396 round fired from a 155-millimeter artillery piece of the Thai military, attributing the debris to clashes between July 24-28, 2025.
In response, Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvari stated that a review of the explanatory document and photographs, when compared to the technical data of the artillery shells mentioned by Cambodia, revealed inconsistencies with the facts. He highlighted several key observations:
1. The Royal Thai Army possesses such artillery shells but employs them cautiously against strongholds, specifically for armor penetration and military targets. These shells are Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) for the 155mm artillery.
2. This ammunition is designed to explode upon reaching its target, releasing an M85 grenade that detonates automatically and leaves no residue, with no pellet component inside.
3. The damage depicted in Cambodian evidence images did not correspond with an M85 grenade. The images showed holes and shrapnel marks inconsistent with the characteristics of a Shaped Charge high-explosive bomb, which typically causes fire or surface melting. The M85 grenade does not produce the extensive shrapnel seen in the images.
Major General Winthai emphasized the improbability of an M85 grenade becoming a residual explosive, noting that even if it had detonated, the damage would not match the Cambodian forensic conclusions.
He urged for responsible and fact-based news reporting from Cambodia to prevent misunderstanding and protect the ongoing conflict-reduction process between the two nations. Misleading communication could jeopardize efforts to resolve tensions peacefully.