(Phnom Penh): Cambodian President of the Senate, Samdech Techo Hun Sen delivered strong remarks concerning the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, following a deadly confrontation in which Thai military forces fatally shot a Cambodian soldier in the Emerald Triangle area of Preah Vihear Province on 28 May 2025.

Samdech Techo spoke on Monday (Jun. 2) during the inaugural joint congress of the National Assembly and Senate Cambodia–Thailand border dispute issue.

In addition, Samdech Techo recalled a statement by Commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region, Boonsin Padklang, who requested that Cambodia withdraw its troops 200 metres from the site of the recent clash in the Emerald Triangle Area. Samdech Techo noted that this echoed a similar proposal made in 2011 by then-Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who called for both Cambodian and Thai forces to pull back from the area surrounding Preah Vihear Temple. In response, Samdech Hun Sen firmly reaffirmed, “Cambodia cannot withdraw its forces from its own territory. On the contrary, it is Thailand that must pull its invading troops out of Cambodia.”

“Nowhere in the world is a country asked to withdraw its troops from its own land. The Emerald Triangle, including the school there, belongs to us. I have personally visited the site. The border is not just nearby—I went beyond it. So why are we now being told to withdraw? This is not about stirring anger—it is about defending national sovereignty. And now, we will clearly see who truly loves and defends the nation,” Samdech Techo underscored.

It is worth noting that during the same session, a joint committee of the National Assembly and Senate—comprising 182 members—adopted a statement in support of the prime minister’s decision to bring the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
=FRESH NEWS