AKP Phnom Penh, June 27, 2023 --

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, has called on his compatriots not to get panic over the deployment of troops to defend the territorial integrity in Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri and Kratie provinces.

The Premier made the appeal in another voice message shared this evening on social media networks. 

“Don’t worry about the outbreak of war,” he said, adding that the deployment of additional troops from Phnom Penh capital to Mondulkiri, Rattanakiri, Kratie and Thbong Khmum provinces is an intervention force to assist the Military Region 1 due to a series of territorial transgressions by unknown drones.

“I consider this act as an invasion and an attempt to commit terrorism on Cambodian territory. Therefore, we need to defend our national sovereignty,” he stressed.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also ordered the Military Region 1 to cooperate with all forces to search for terrorists who had fled from Vietnam and are hiding in Cambodia. Moreover, he asked the local people to cooperate in providing information related to terrorism, affirming that Cambodian weapons are capable enough to shoot down these drones.

Besides, Samdech Techo Hun Sen called on any neighbouring countries that provide locations for the above-said drones to enter Cambodian territory to immediately stop this act.

“Please respect our sovereignty, we want nothing but peace, independence and our sovereignty," underlined Samdech Techo Prime Minister. 

Earlier today, Samdech Techo Hun Sen ordered competent authorities to deploy 500 troops and at least 200 weapons to provinces at the border with Vietnam to take down unknown drones flying into the Cambodian territory.

According to the Cambodian Premier, many drones have successively flown into the Cambodian territory in Rattanakiri province. The Vietnamese side denied that they are not theirs. After continuous evaluation, he estimated that those drones would belong to the group who attacked Vietnam about two weeks ago.

(Photo: Bodyguard Command)

By C. Nika