(Phnom Penh): Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia, remarked that the recent border clashes with Thailand reveal who truly loves the nation. He noted that when Cambodia chooses not to respond with force, it is labelled as cowardice, yet when it does respond, it is accused of resorting to violence.

Samdech Techo’s remarks were made on Monday (Jun. 2) during the first joint congress of the National Assembly and Senate to discuss the national social protection system, the informal economy, and agriculture.

Speaking at the congress, Samdech Techo emphasized that no country ever withdraws its forces from its own territory.

The Senate president stressed, “This is not an incitement of anger, but a matter of national sovereignty. And now we will clearly see who truly loves and defends the nation. When we do not retaliate, we are accused of cowardice; when we do, we are accused of using violence. When we do not file a case, they say we lack courage; when we do file, they accuse us of provoking conflict—those are the voices from certain extremist Khmer diaspora groups.”

According to Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodia is not abandoning diplomatic mechanisms. However, in this round of negotiations, Cambodia will invite the Thai side to jointly bring the four disputed locations—the Emerald Triangle area, Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Toch Temple, and Ta Krabey Temple—to the International Court of Justice. Meanwhile, the Joint Commission on the Demarcation of Land Boundary (JBC) will continue its work on demarcation and installation of border markers.
=FRESH NEWS