Minister of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn dispatched urgent missives to the president of the UN Security Council and UN Secretary-General António Guterres on August 11, highlighting the current risks to the fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia and calling on Thailand to withdraw their troops from Cambodia territory.
Sokhonn’s letters highlighted the risks to the ceasefire caused by the actions of the Thai military. They have laid barbed wire and built roads into Cambodian territory, among other violations, explained foreign ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry, in an August 12 daily press briefing.
Cambodia and Thailand have signed ceasefire agreements twice. The first was backed by US President Donald Trump, who used tariff negotiations to bring the two sides to the table. The talks were facilitated by current ASEAN chair Malaysia and observed by China.
The second signing, on August 7, outlined a detailed agreement, in the hopes of returning the situation to normal.
Cambodia has reported that the Thais have committed several ceasefire violations since it came into force.
“The present fragile truce is now facing growing risks, with the Thai armed forces continuing to carry out escalating breaches of Cambodia sovereignty and territory integrity, in violation of international law and biding bilateral agreements, as well as the terms of the agreed ceasefire,” said Sounry.
“Since the agreed ceasefire entry into force on July 28, Thai military units have repeatedly entered Cambodian territory; they have illegally laid barbed wire and constructed roads at multiple locations, in deliberated and aggravated breaches of the ceasefire and the agreed minutes of the August 7 Extraordinary Meeting of the General Border Committee,” he added.
The violations include their illegal access to the An Ses area in Preah Vihear province, laying barbed wire and demolishing the homes of Cambodians, as well as clearing land with bulldozers. He also mentioned comments made by Thai Second Army Region commander Boonsin Padklang, who announced that he planned to reclaim the Ta Krabey Temple and cut off access to the Ta Mone Thom Temple before his retirement, in 50 days.
Sokhonn called on the Thai government and their armed forces to cease all incursions and illegal occupations and other activities which violate Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity, explained Sounry.
“Withdraw all Thai military personnel and equipment from the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia to positions fully consistent with legally established boundary,” he said.
He added that Sokhonn had made it clear to the UN that the border cannot be changed by force.
