Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for “urgent intervention” from the ASEAN chair, urging the bloc to ensure that Thailand does not continue installing razor wire barricades in Prey Chan village or other areas and to maintain the current ceasefire, leaving the issue to be resolved by the Joint Border Committee (JBC).
He made the request during a phone call with 2025 ASEAN chair Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the afternoon of September 18, with both leaders discussed the concerning developments in Banteay Meanchey province’s Prey Chan village, in O’Chrov district’s O’Beichoan commune.
“As the situation today continues to evolve worryingly, I have requested His Excellency Anwar Ibrahim to stage an urgent intervention to ease tensions between Thai armed forces and Cambodian civilians, to maintain the status quo, to prevent the further installation of razor wire or any other actions that could escalate the conflict, and to await a border resolution from the Joint Border Committee (JBC) in the near future,” Manet explained, in a social media post.
On September 10, during a special General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to discuss the border issue at the upcoming JBC meeting. However, in recent days, tensions in Prey Chan village have escalated, leading to clashes between Thai armed forces and Cambodian civilians, resulting in injuries to nearly 30 Cambodian civilians.
On September 18, Thai troops reinforced their forces with riot police from Chachoengsao and Prachinburi provinces, bringing in approximately 340 additional personnel to assist the Sa Kaeo province police.
They are preparing to move to the Nong Ya Kaeo border area adjacent to Cambodia’s Prey Chan village to continue installing barbed wire, according to Thai media outlet The Nation.
