Cambodia firmly rejects any attempt to cloak military occupation as routine law enforcement. What is unfolding at O’Smach is neither a technical misunderstanding nor a minor border management issue. It is a grave challenge to sovereignty at an internationally recognised border crossing long acknowledged by both Cambodia and Thailand. O’Smach is not disputed terrain. It has functioned for years under bilateral arrangements governing cross-border movement and security coordination. Any unilateral deployment of troops beyond agreed lines, under whatever label, violates those understandings and undermines the basic principle of peaceful coexistence between neighbouring states. Even more revealing is the reported presence…
Author: Guest Writer
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has recently articulated an uncompromising position regarding sovereignty in sensitive and disputed border areas between Cambodia and Thailand. In November 2025, he declared publicly that the Thai–Cambodian peace declaration was “over”, stating: “Thailand belongs to us. Where I stand now is Thai soil. No one can claim sovereignty over it,” as reported by The Nation Thailand. Cambodia must respond with legal clarity: standing somewhere does not make it yours. Footsteps do not determine borders, and sovereignty is not created by proclamation. Such absolutist rhetoric is not a substitute for lawful dispute…
For decades, Thailand has marketed itself as a pillar of stability, a tourism powerhouse and a gateway economy in mainland Southeast Asia. Yet beneath this carefully curated image lies a chronic condition that has repeatedly undermined the country’s political health, economic prospects, and international standing. In this sense, Thailand increasingly resembles the “sick man of Southeast Asia” — not because of poverty or lack of potential, but because of persistent military domination over politics and the deliberate externalisation of internal crises. A Chronic Political Illness: Military Dominance Thailand’s modern political history is marked by a revolving door of military coups,…
The recent guided tour led by Thailand’s military intelligence chief through occupied border areas was not a routine briefing. It was a calculated political performance — one that openly normalised the use of force over law on Cambodian sovereign territory. I ask directly: what did you feel when you stood on land that international maps and historical records identify as Cambodian, while it was presented to you as Thai-controlled ground? Was there no unease when military occupation was reframed as administrative normalcy? More troubling still is whether Thailand’s military intelligence chief anticipated — or deliberately avoided — the most basic…
I am writing to share a concern about the public use of hotspot information with limited accuracy due to lack of on-ground verification. In addition, snapshot images taken from hotspot visualised websites and sharing them on social media platforms without a technical explanation can unintentionally misinform the public and create a misleading perception of the actual situation. The Satellite-derived active fire/thermal anomalies, often visualised as “hotspots” at approximately 375m to 1km resolution using VIIRS and MODIS are valuable tools for rapid observation. These datasets are designed to capture conditions quickly, often in real time and are useful for initial detection…
I have lived through one of the darkest chapters in my country’s history. During the Cold War, Cambodia became an unwilling battleground as superpowers tested their weapons and ideologies. From 1970 to 1993, countless lives were lost, families shattered and a nation traumatised. That ordeal left a deep mark on me, and I fear the younger generation may face similar horrors if the lessons of history are forgotten. Today, more than ever, ASEAN leaders have a responsibility to ensure that peace endures and that the region remains a space of stability, prosperity and harmony. The contemporary world, however, presents new…
On February 2, Thailand’s military intelligence chief led a highly publicised tour to the Thai–Cambodian border, bringing foreign military attachés from approximately 20 embassies together with officers of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Thai authorities presented the visit as an “open house” briefing, alleging that compounds across the border — including locations near O’Smach — were linked to large-scale scam operations targeting victims worldwide. Transnational fraud is a serious regional challenge. Criminal networks operating across borders cause real harm, and cooperation among states is necessary. The issue, however, is not whether crime exists. The issue is whether criminal…
Prime Minister Hun Manet has frequently described Cambodia’s diplomacy as “quiet, but not silent”. The phrase reflects Cambodia’s long-standing foreign policy preference for restraint, dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes through established diplomatic and legal mechanisms. In Southeast Asia, where border sensitivities and historical issues can carry political significance, such an approach is often viewed as prudent. Cambodia’s emphasis on stability and cooperation has contributed to regional peace and has supported the country’s broader development priorities. At the same time, quiet diplomacy can present communication challenges, particularly when matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity attract heightened public attention. Border-related…
Drawing the Doctrinal Boundary for Legal Practice and Constitutional Development Abstract Freedom of expression is constitutionally protected in Cambodia under Article 41, yet public speech remains subject to criminal regulation, most notably through the offense of incitement under Articles 495–496 of the Penal Code. The doctrinal difficulty lies in drawing a principled boundary between lawful expression — particularly political speech, journalism and protest discourse — and punishable incitement to felony, violence, discrimination or disturbance of social security. This article argues that Cambodian incitement provisions must be interpreted through a strict constitutional lens of directness, intent, specificity, contextual imminence, legality and…
Ceasefires are not tactical intermissions. They are binding political commitments designed to freeze positions, prevent escalation and create space for diplomacy. Any attempt to alter realities on disputed ground after such understandings — however incremental — undermines trust and risks reigniting confrontation. Recent developments along the Cambodian-Thai border have prompted serious concern that unilateral activities are continuing in areas where sovereignty remains unresolved. Infrastructure construction, redeployments or administrative changes carried out under the cover of calm are precisely the kinds of actions international practice seeks to prevent. Creating facts on the ground while negotiations remain incomplete is incompatible with good-faith…