Cambodian has issued renewed protests against the Thai military’s unlawful activities on Cambodian territory near Preah Vihear temple last month, noting that the actions violate the ICJ ruling which affirmed that Preah Vihear and its vicinity belong to Cambodia.
In a March 13 press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that Cambodia has lodged formal protests over unlawful activities that violated Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity at several locations along the border.
It said that between February 23 and 25, Thai military personnel and civilians carried out construction and excavation work on the promontory of the UNESCO heritage listed Preah Vihear, including the construction of a guard post and a road leading toward Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak Pagoda, located close to the temple.
“These activities were undertaken in disregard of the judgments of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 1962 and 2013, which affirmed that the Temple of Preah Vihear and its entire promontory lie within the sovereign territory of Cambodia,” the ministry stated.
In the province’s Bosbov-Choam Tae area in Choam Khsan district, Thai Armed Forces and monks have continued the construction of a large Buddha statue, despite repeated requests from the Cambodian side to cease the work, which began on March 7 according to the ministry.
The ministry also said that Thai armed forces are constructing permanent infrastructure in the area of Ta Krabei Temple, including concrete roads, steel stairways and Buddha statues intended to establish tourist zones and military positions.
Other unlawful activities took place in areas in Oddar Meanchey province, such as the unlawful construction of concrete roads.
“These actions, which violate Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, are contrary to Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary, which prohibits activities that alter the physical or environmental characteristics of the border area and may impede the work of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC),” it said.
“They also run counter to the spirit of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) of 27 December 2025,” the ministry added.
Calling up on Thailand to immediately cease all the illegal actions, the ministry said: “Cambodia remains committed to resolving all boundary issues peacefully in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements, while firmly upholding the principle that borders must not be altered by force or by unilateral facts created on the ground”.
