AKP Phnom Penh, January 04, 2026 --

Cambodia has accused the Thai military of violating a recent ceasefire agreement and infringing upon its national sovereignty by deploying troops and heavy machinery to occupy a disputed border zone, local officials and residents said on Sunday.

The escalation in the Boeung Trakuon area of Banteay Meanchey province comes despite a truce signed on Dec. 27, 2025. Cambodian authorities allege that instead of withdrawing, Thai forces used excavators to level homes and established a fortified presence using shipping containers and barbed-wire fencing.

“The Boeung Trakuon area, encompassing four villages, has been illegally surrounded by Thai military containers and barbed wire without any legal basis,” said H.E. Oum Reatrey, Governor of Banteay Meanchey. “These actions were carried out in defiance of international law, occurring even after both sides agreed to a ceasefire.”

According to official provincial data, the disputed area covers 292 hectares of land claimed by Cambodia. The standoff has displaced 1,479 families—totaling more than 6,000 people—and resulted in the destruction of approximately 1,365 homes.

The Royal Government of Cambodia issued a formal statement describing the Thai military’s maneuvers as "diametrically opposed" to previous bilateral commitments. Cambodia has demanded an immediate cessation of "hostile military activities" and a return to international legal principles to maintain border stability.

On the ground, the humanitarian impact is stark. Displaced residents, now observing the start of 2026 from temporary shelters, described a scene of devastation.

"I can only watch from a distance. My home is gone," said one resident from Boeung Trakuon village, speaking near the newly erected Thai perimeter. "All I see is barbed wire and black-and-blue containers. This is our New Year gift—losing everything we worked for."

In response to the displacement, provincial authorities have established a temporary safety centre at Kandol pagoda in Kok Romiet commune. Governor Reatrey stated that the provincial administration is providing food, medical services, and security to those fleeing the friction zone, pledging that the Royal Government will remain on-site until a resolution allows residents to rebuild.

Article in Khmer by Chhun Sarath
Article in English by K. Rithy Reak