(Takeo): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a warning to Thailand, stating that any unilateral attempt to block Cambodian citizens from accessing the Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Tauch Temple, Ta Krabei Temple, and the Emerald Triangle area, which remain under territorial dispute and are awaiting a ruling from the International Court of Justice, would constitute crossing a red line. He cautioned that such actions would lead to serious consequences.

The premier spoke on Tuesday (Jul. 1) during the National Fish Day celebration and the release of approximately 1.5 million fish into Tonle Sap Lake, held in Bati district, Takeo province.

Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated that the areas of Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Tauch Temple, and Ta Krabei Temple, and the Emerald Triangle are unresolved territories under international legal process. As such, no party has the unilateral authority to restrict access based on its own will. He stressed that the status quo must be maintained as it stood on 7 June 2025.

“Let me make it clear the areas of Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Tauch Temple, Ta Krabei Temple, and the Emerald Triangle are unresolved. We have submitted the matter to international judicial mechanisms. No party has the right to unilaterally block access to these areas. The status quo must be respected. Any attempt to restrict Cambodian citizens from entering would cross a red line and will be met with appropriate consequences. Such an act would be tantamount to enforcing a unilateral border demarcation and imposing Thailand’s 1:50,000 map interpretation,” Samdech Thipadei underscored.

The premier continued, “If that map is accepted, what other areas along the 800-kilometer border will they attempt to claim next? That is unacceptable. We rely on the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese treaties, and their attached protocols. The issue is not whether the map is at a 1:50,000 or 1:100,000 scale—what matters is that the original map must be accurately transposed to the agreed-upon 1:200,000 scale. Cambodia seeks only what is legally and rightfully ours. What has been signed must be fully respected, not selectively applied or disregarded.”

Furthermore, the prime minister confirmed that Cambodia is awaiting engagement with the appropriate Thai authorities who have decision-making power, calling on Thailand to reopen the border crossings unilaterally and restore normalcy to the situation as it was on 7 June 2025. If Thailand reopens the border unilaterally, Cambodia will reciprocate within five hours to fully resume regular operations.

It should be noted that the Thailand-Cambodia border checkpoints across seven provinces have been closed unilaterally by the Thai side since 23 June 2025. All vehicular movement has been banned, and travel, such as tourism, trade, and other forms has also been suspended, except for certain cases such as students, patients, or humanitarian activities.
=FRESH NEWS