Phnom Penh, 30 September 2026 Touch Sokhak Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia

We categorically reject and dismiss the assertions made by the Thai Representative to the United Nations, who attempted to allege that Cambodian citizens in the Chok Chey and Prey Chan village areas have encroached upon and resided on Thai territory, and who appealed to Cambodia to refrain from raising the border issue at international forums.

Repeated assertions by the Thai side cannot transform unilateral claims into legal facts. International boundaries are not determined by unilateral statements or maps, the presence of armed forces, the deployment of shipping containers to blockade roads, barbed wire, or fait accompli. Even the official documents of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledge that the Cambodia-Thailand border is based on the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention, the 1907 Treaty, and related maps, whereas the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) stipulates that border surveying and demarcation must be conducted jointly through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

Therefore, should the Thai side firmly believe that the territory it claims possesses a clear legal basis, it is urged to present its maps, coordinates, and legal documents for verification with Cambodia through the JBC mechanism, as previously agreed upon by both parties. The deployment of armed forces, the installation of barbed wire and shipping containers, the excavation of trenches, or fait accompli can never establish an international boundary or legitimate sovereign rights.

Thailand's reference to "shelters dating back to the 1970s" cannot substitute for an answer to the current core issue. The pressing matter to be resolved today is that tens of thousands of Cambodian citizens remain unable to return to their homes, while the Thai military continues its illegal occupation of territory that falls within Cambodia's sovereign territory. In late July 2026, the Cambodian Representative to the United Nations also confirmed that more than 20,000 Cambodian citizens remain displaced.

Consequently, we consider the continuous cherry-picking of historical narratives that solely benefit Thailand, coupled with baseless accusations against Cambodian citizens to misrepresent the current situation, as a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the core question that the Thai side must answer: "Why are Cambodian citizens still unable to return to their homes, and why has the joint surveying process through the JBC not been utilized as the mechanism to adjudicate these territorial claims?"

Notably, the Thai side itself signed the General Border Committee (GBC) Joint Statement on 27 December 2025, which explicitly states that both parties must maintain their respective troop positions without advancing; that arrangements under the ceasefire shall not prejudice international boundary demarcation; that surveying tasks must be entrusted to the JBC; and that civilians in the affected areas must be allowed to return to their homes unhindered, in safety, and with dignity.

Thus, the assertion that Thailand "respects the ceasefire" cannot be measured solely by the absence of large-scale armed clashes. It must be evaluated based on the implementation of the agreement's entire substance, which includes halting troop advancements, refraining from creating new situations on the ground, avoiding actions that prejudice the border demarcation process, and ensuring that civilians are able to return to their homes.

Regarding the appeal for Cambodia to refrain from raising the border issue at international forums, we assert that Cambodia cannot be expected to remain silent while critical issues affecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens remain unresolved. Raising these issues through peaceful means is entirely consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which mandates that Member States settle their disputes by peaceful means and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As long as the Thai military continues its unlawful activities violating Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, obstructing citizens from returning to their homes, and creating new situations on the ground, Cambodia will continue to speak out, present evidence, and raise these issues across all peaceful mechanisms—bilaterally, regionally, and internationally.

The only requirement is that the Thai side must honor the documents it has signed and resolve any differences through the mechanisms mutually agreed upon by both parties. If Thailand asserts that the territory is its own, it must present a legal basis. If Thailand claims to respect the ceasefire, it must fully implement the substance of that ceasefire. Unilateral assertions cannot establish a boundary. Situations established by force cannot substitute for lawful surveying. As for demanding Cambodia's silence, it will not make the realities on the ground disappear.