Phnom Penh: According to research results from the CMAC expert team, it is preliminarily concluded that Siam may have used large-caliber 155MM artillery shells, numbering approximately 120,000 to 130,000 shells, containing 6 to 7 million submunitions, fired onto Cambodian territory.
According to a post by Mr. Heng Ratana, Director General of CMAC, on the Facebook social network, the artillery shells used by the Siamese military fired onto Cambodian territory are mainly of three types: M42, M46, and M85. Research results from the CMAC expert team in the affected areas, covering 371 villages in 6 provinces along the Khmer-Siam border, including Koh Kong, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah Vihear provinces, as well as Siem Reap province, identified affected areas by cluster munitions covering approximately 3,600 polygons (locations) with a total land area of about 2,360 square kilometers.
Mr. Heng Ratana added that these artillery shells were fired onto civilian villages, farmland, schools, hospitals, civil areas, and military sites.
He clarified, “Based on the technical characteristics of the research identifying the affected areas caused by cluster munitions of the M-series type, it can be preliminarily concluded that Siam may have used large-caliber 155MM artillery shells numbering approximately 120,000 to 130,000 shells, containing 6 to 7 million submunitions. The foundational research is not yet fully completed.
Please note that M-series cluster munitions have been used in wars in several countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, among others.”
