AKP Phnom Penh, June 07, 2025 --

Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has affirmed that Cambodia’s decision to bring the ongoing border issue with Thailand to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is not intended to incite conflict, but rather to peacefully resolve it and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

“The goal is not to escalate tensions but to prevent conflict. If there is fighting, both sides will suffer losses,” Samdech Thipadei stated during an inauguration ceremony for school buildings and other educational achievements held this morning in Banlung city, Rattanakiri province.

He reiterated Cambodia’s three mechanisms to resolving border disputes: bilateral mechanisms, international legal channels, and, only if necessary, military defence.

The Prime Minister urged the Cambodian people to place their trust in the Royal Government and national defence forces to manage the situation. He strongly cautioned against turning the border issue into a racially charged conflict between Cambodians and Thais.

In this context, he expressed appreciation to the Cambodian public for exercising restraint, particularly in response to a protest by over 200 Thai nationals outside the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok on June 6.

“I urge everyone once again not to inflame the situation or incite racial hatred. These tensions are stirred up by a minority of ultra-nationalists in both countries. If the broader public begins to act on those sentiments, the battlefield will expand—from military conflict to societal and economic confrontation between the two nations,” he warned.

Samdech Thipadei also conveyed Cambodia’s official stance H.E. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and the current Chair of ASEAN. During the phone conversation on the evening of June 6, Samdech Thipadei emphasised the Kingdom’s steadfast dedication to maintaining peace, friendship, and constructive cooperation with Thailand.

He explained that Cambodia’s decision to bring the border issues concerning the areas of Mom Bei, Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Tauch Temple, and Ta Krabei Temple to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reflects a desire to find a timely and peaceful resolution. Leaving these issues unresolved for an extended period could risk renewed armed conflict, he said.

At the same time, Samdech Thipadei underlined Cambodia’s intention to continue working with the Thai side to advance the measurement, demarcation, and placement of border markers in the remaining areas. This will be done through the existing mechanism of the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Commission on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary (JBC).

The Premier further stressed that Cambodia remains committed to strengthening bilateral relations through all existing mechanisms for the supreme interest of the two peoples.

The Cambodia-Thailand border tension intensified when Thai military forces opened fire on a Cambodian army post located in Techo Morokot village, Morokot commune, Choam Khsan district, Preah Vihear province—an area long recognised as a Cambodian military position on the morning of May 28, 2025, at approximately 5:30 a.m. Tragically, the exchange resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

By C. Nika