While commentary from the Thai side has subsided due to the floods faced by the neighbouring kingdom, the border debate has been reignited within Cambodia, with a former opposition official claiming that Cambodia will lose territory through the current temporary border demarcation process.
Um Sam An, a former senior opposition politician, has repeatedly claimed that Cambodia will lose several square kilometres of land. He has suggested that Cambodia has agreed to use a 1:50,000 scale map like one furnished by Thailand, and that the temporary markers currently being measured by Cambodian and Thai working groups will become official posts in the future.
Prime Minister Hun Manet responded to the claims today, November 27, noting that, in his view, what Sam An says regarding border affairs seems to lack clarity or credibility, whether regarding technical map foundations, a legal basis or reference documents.
He explained that as far as he could tell, Sam An had requested a photocopy of a map from the US Library of Congress for research, and then claimed that this or that person said Khmer border posts used to be here, not there.
“I would like to offer this advice: if you or your group do not clearly understand maps or border affairs, please do not position yourselves as more knowledgeable than the border specialists who have done this work for decades,” Manet said, via social media.
“If you are not arrogant or afraid of being looked down upon, and want to learn about the methodology or techniques of using maps (which you photocopied from the US Library of Congress) to assist in correct measurement, planting posts and demarcation on the ground, you can ask the Royal Government to arrange for real border experts to conduct a short presentation regarding the technical basics of using maps,” he added.
As Sam An lives abroad, Manet suggested that he could appoint a representative in Cambodia to observe the presentation and then use the knowledge gained to educate Sam An and his group abroad.
“I believe that when you have understood some of the basics of reading technical maps, you will have the ability to speak much more reasonably than before, in the event that you uphold the truth,” he said.
