On 7 April 2011, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, responded to media questions about the press release of the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) dated 6 April 2011, alleging Thai use of cluster munitions in Cambodia, as follows:
1. CMC’s statement about what the Thai Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva had said was misrepresented. The Permanent Representative had informed the CMC that Thailand had used “Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions” (DPICM), not “cluster munitions” as erroneously reported by CMC.
2. Thailand’s use of DPICM was in response to Cambodia’s attacks against Thailand with BM-21 multiple-rocket launcher systems, which struck at targets indiscriminately. Such attacks had impacted Thai civilians. It was therefore necessary for Thai troops to act in self-defense against such military targets. In doing so, the Thai troops had exercised maximum restraint, on the basis of necessity, proportionality, and in strict compliance with the military code of conduct and rules of engagement, taking the utmost caution to avoid civilians.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th