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Cambodia: ASEAN Observer Team Inspects Border Situation Amidst Thai Occupation and Civilian Displacement
Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense announced that an ASEAN Observer Team inspected the Chong Bua Tkuar border area on August 4th, which is reportedly under illegal occupation by Thai military forces. This has led to the displacement of 1870 households (8790 people), highlighting the urgent need for border demarcation.
The Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia announced on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM, that the ASEAN Observer Team–Cambodia (AOT-KH), led by its Head of Mission (HOM) from the Republic of the Philippines, conducted an observation and verification mission regarding the border situation in the Chong Bua Tkuar area, in Kork Romet Commune, Thma Pouk District, Banteay Meanchey Province, following the ceasefire coming into effect. It is reported that to date, 1870 civilian families, totaling 8790 people, including 1980 children, in the Chong Bua Tkuar area are displaced and have not yet been able to return to their homes due to the illegal occupation of Cambodian territory by Thai military forces at the aforementioned location. This occupation has involved the deployment of containers and the destruction of civilian homes. The observation and verification by the ASEAN Observer Team underscores the absolute necessity of commencing the demarcation work by the Joint Border Commission (JBC) of Cambodia-Thailand as soon as possible. This aligns with the fourth point of the Joint Declaration of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on December 27, 2025, which aims to allow innocent Cambodian civilians to return to their residences safely and with dignity. Cambodia firmly maintains its stance in defending the Cambodia-Thailand international border line inherited from the Indochina-Siam Boundary Commission. The nation upholds international law, the principle of Uti Possidetis Juris, the Franco-Siamese Convention, boundary demarcation protocols, maps resulting from the Indochina-Siam Boundary Commission's work, meeting minutes, border pillar inscription records, the 2000 MOU, the 2003 TOR, and other relevant agreements and documents that both parties have previously agreed upon. In this regard, Cambodia absolutely rejects any alteration of the border line resulting from the use of force and illegal occupation through the creation of fait accompli on the ground. Cambodia will continue to lodge official protests with the Thai side regarding any unilateral actions or violations by Thailand against Cambodia's legal territorial integrity. By: Kong Sirirat © All rights reserved by National News Agency of Cambodia 2018
Original source
AKP Khmer