AKP Phnom Penh, September 05, 2025 --

The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) has sent a formal protest note to the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh regarding recent actions by Thai forces in the border regions. 

The protest, delivered yesterday, specifically addresses what the ministry describes as the expansion of a conflict area into communities where Cambodian families have resided for decades.

In a press release, the MFAIC stated that unilateral actions by Thailand since the beginning of August have caused severe hardship for many Cambodian families. The ministry highlighted two villages in O’ Beichoan commune, O’ Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, where residents have been evicted from their homes and farmlands.

The MFAIC noted several concerning actions, including the laying of barbed wire, nets, barriers, and tires in the area. The protest also cited a public ultimatum from Thai officials for Cambodia to "evacuate its citizens from Chork Chey village in 3-6 months or face forced removal by the Thai military." Furthermore, Thailand has allegedly announced plans to issue land titles to its own citizens for areas currently inhabited by hundreds of Cambodian families.

The ministry described these actions as "deeply concerning" and a clear attempt to unilaterally demarcate the border using military force. This, it argues, violates the mandate of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) and contradicts the spirit of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the survey and demarcation of the land boundary.

Cambodia's protest also referenced several recent agreements, including the July 28, 2025, ceasefire agreement and the agreed minutes from the Extraordinary Meetings of the General Border Committee (GBC) on Aug. 7, 2025, and the Regional Border Committee on August 22, 2025.

The MFAIC reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to peacefully resolving all border disputes with its neighbours in accordance with international law, while maintaining its principled position that borders must not be changed by force. 

The ministry urged Thailand to restore the status quo ante and resolve the situation through the agreed-upon GBC and JBC mechanisms.

By Heng Panha