Cambodia has registered strong objections after Thai officials led journalists, foreign military personnel and FBI officials on an inspection tour of a location 397 metres inside Cambodian territory, noting that the action was a violation of international law and the UN charter.
In a February 4 press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that it had lodged a protest against the unauthorised site inspection visit, led by the Thai Army Intelligence Chief within Cambodian territory, which took place on February 2 in the O’Smach area, Oddar Meanchey province.
“This site inspection was conducted without the consent of the Royal Government of Cambodia, constituting a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The hotels and locations inspected are situated 397 metres from the O’Smach International Border Checkpoint, near Border Post 15,” it said.
The ministry added that the area was occupied by Thai armed forces through the use of force during their recent December 7-27 offensive against Cambodia.
“Cambodia rejects and strongly objects to the operations conducted by Thai military forces, including the illegal exercise of Thai sovereignty through organising the aforementioned visit. This constitutes a violation of the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter and is an attempt to legitimise their occupation of Cambodian sovereign territory,” it continued.
The ministry reaffirmed that the Royal Government of Cambodia is firmly and unwaveringly committed to seeking resolutions to all border disputes with Thailand, as well as with all its neighbours, through peaceful means. This is in accordance with international law, and Cambodia remains committed to maintaining its principled position that borders must not be altered by force.
On February 2, the head of Thai military intelligence led US FBI officials, foreign military attachés from 20 countries and several international journalists into the O’Smach area. They entered two hotels where they claimed to have found evidence related to online scamming activities.
Cambodian officials and analysts stated that Thailand’s unilateral visit represents the application of Thai law on Cambodian territory. They viewed it as an attempt to divert international attention from the illegal occupation of Cambodian territory toward the crackdown on scamming crimes, as well as an effort to create a new status quo on the ground.
