AKP Phnom Penh, September 04, 2025 -- The Governor of Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey Province has officially responded to a request from the Governor of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo Province, clarifying that matters related to border management, demarcation, and boundary marker placement fall under the jurisdiction of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) of both nations.

In an official letter, H.E. Oum Reatrey, Governor of Banteay Meanchey, addressed a previous communication from the Governor of Sa Kaeo Province, which had requested cooperation to resolve issues concerning Cambodian residential settlements in the border area between Banteay Meanchey and Sa Kaeo provinces.

Governor Oum Reatrey acknowledged receipt of letter No. 0017.2/175 dated on August 29, 2025, from his Thai counterpart, which sought cooperation in addressing housing-related concerns affecting Cambodian citizens residing in O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey Province, adjacent to Khok Sung district in Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand.

In his reply, the Banteay Meanchey Governor emphasized:

“I would like to respectfully inform Your Excellency that the above-mentioned issue pertains to matters of border management, surveying, demarcation, and the placement of boundary markers, which fall under the competence of the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand. 

This is in accordance with the Agreement on Border Cooperation signed on September 29, 1995, and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundaries between Cambodia and Thailand signed in the year 2000 (MoU 2000).”

He further stated that any unilateral actions by either side that affect local residents living and relying on resources in the border area would constitute a violation of the MoU 2000, the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand dated on July 28, 2025, as well as the spirit of the Extraordinary Meeting of the GBC held on August 7, 2025, in Malaysia and the Regional Border Committee (RBC) meetings.

Governor Oum Reatrey reiterated the importance of adhering strictly to the MoU 2000, international law, and all relevant bilateral agreements concerning border matters. He urged his Thai counterpart to maintain the status quo in the border area and preserve the safety and well-being of the affected local population, especially during the current rainy season.

“I respectfully propose that the matter be left to the GBC and JBC mechanisms, which hold the official mandate and capacity to resolve such issues,” he said.

“I am confident that a peaceful and legally grounded resolution can be reached through upcoming meetings of the GBC and JBC.”

By K. Rithy Reak