Trat: The Royal Thai Navy immediately responded, saying Cambodia had spread false information about the sound of firecrackers at the border. Rear Admiral Parat Ratanachaiphan, the Royal Thai Navy spokesman, clarified that according to the report released by the Cambodian Ministry of Defense on November 19, 2025, Cambodia’s ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) had ended its mission to monitor the ceasefire at the border crossing in Pursat Province after hearing sounds resembling the use of weapons from the Thai side.
According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Thai Navy Spokesperson’s Office sought to clarify the facts, stating that the area in question is the first phase of the mine clearance operation by the Humanitarian Mine Action Center (TMAC) in Ban Chamrak, Tambon Chamrak, Mueang District, Trat Province. This area clearly falls under Thai sovereignty and is the same region where the Thai side has successfully cleared a large number of explosives, including new PMN-2 bombs, suspected to have been secretly placed as anti-personnel mines recently.
On November 17, 2015, the Trat Marine Task Force (TMAC), which was patrolling and escorting the mine clearance team, observed several Cambodian soldiers leading an AOT-Cambodia team near the barbed wire fence set up by Thailand to prevent danger from mines and stop the Cambodian side from disrupting Thai operations. They attempted to cross the barbed wire, but the Thai side did not allow the Cambodian soldiers to bring the team into the Thai operational area.
Later today (November 19, 2015, at approximately 11:00 a.m.), while the Thai TMAC unit was conducting operations, they observed a group of Cambodian soldiers inside a boxing stadium base, approximately 150 meters from the barbed wire fence. A loud noise resembling a firecracker or an unknown sound was heard nearby. Both sides took cover and retreated to their shelters as a precaution. A thorough investigation by the Thai side revealed no weapons or actions were used. Initially, those present at the scene stated that the noise resembled a firecracker rather than a firearm, suggesting that the situation may have been created by the Cambodian side.
The Royal Thai Navy affirms that Thailand has implemented humanitarian measures in accordance with international standards and has consistently focused on reducing risk factors in border areas. The Royal Thai Navy will continue its demining operations to ensure the safety of citizens along the border. The Royal Thai Navy remains committed to maintaining peace and order along the border and is ready to coordinate through existing cooperation mechanisms to prevent misunderstandings and prevent further tensions.