Cambodia Protests Thai Land Alteration Near Border Marker 9

The Cambodian government has issued a stronger official protest against ongoing violations of Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity by Thai armed forces along the border. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on September 15, 2026, Thai armed forces utilized heavy machinery to level land and dig a canal near border marker number 9 in the Ta Tum area, Anlong Veng district, Oddar Meanchey province. The Cambodian government strongly protests the aforementioned actions, deeming them a clear violation of Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity as defined and demarcated by the 1:200,000 scale map produced by the Franco-Siamese Boundary Commission, in accordance with the French-Siamese Convention of 1904 and the Convention of 1907. These activities also violate Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Royal Government of Thailand on Land Boundary Survey and Demarcation, signed on June 14, 2000, and the Joint Communiqué of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) dated December 27, 2025. In the latter, both parties agreed to entrust the Joint Border Commission (JBC) with the task of expediting the survey and demarcation of the land boundary in accordance with existing agreements between Cambodia and Thailand. The Cambodian government reiterates that Cambodia absolutely does not recognize any unilateral border lines or territorial claims by Thailand, and that the above-mentioned activities do not affect Cambodia's legal rights or position regarding its international borders. The Cambodian government demands that Thailand cease all such activities and respect its commitment to de-escalate the situation, promote mutual trust, and facilitate the peaceful resolution of disputes, aiming to restore peace, stability, and good neighborly relations along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Cambodia remains committed to resolving border issues with Thailand, as well as with all neighboring countries, peacefully and in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements, while upholding its principled stance that border lines must not be changed by force. Source: AKP Khmer