(Phnom Penh): The ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH) on Sunday (Aug. 23) visited Banteay Meanchey Province to conduct observation, verification, and reporting on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

According to Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, Spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Defence, the field visit was coordinated by the Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) and led by the AOT-KH Head of Mission from the Philippines.

The delegation began their mission at 08:25 a.m. to inspect the illegal deployment of shipping containers by the Thai military across 14 locations, totaling 44 containers, in the area of the Boeung Trakoun Border Checkpoint, Kouk Romiet Commune, Tmor Pouk District.

The ministry emphasized that this illegal deployment has prevented 7,873 Cambodian civilians, equivalent to 1,869 families, including 1,847 children, from returning to their homes.

The spokesperson further noted that the AOT's observation, verification, and report at the abovementioned locations underscore the absolute necessity for the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to launch border demarcation work as soon as possible.

The Ministry of National Defence reaffirmed Cambodia's firm stance on protecting the Cambodia-Thailand international border as established by the Indochina-Siam Boundary Commission. This includes respecting international law, such as the principle of the intangibility of inherited borders (Uti Possidetis Juris), as well as adhering to the Franco–Siamese conventions, treaties, maps, the procès-verbaux of the Commission of the Abornement of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, the MOU 2000, the TOR 2003, and relevant agreements and documents that both parties have previously agreed upon.

Cambodia reiterated its commitment to existing agreements, specifically point four of the Joint Statement from the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on 27 December 2025, to ensure citizens can safely, peacefully, and with dignity return to their homes without obstruction. In this sense, Cambodia firmly declared that it absolutely does not recognize any border alterations resulting from the use of force or illegal territorial occupation through the creation of a fait accompli on the ground, and will continue to formally protest against any unilateral or abusive actions by the Thai side against Cambodia's legitimate territorial integrity.
=FRESH NEWS