AKP Phnom Penh, October 11, 2026 --

Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has reaffirmed his guarantee of safety for opposition politician Um Sam An and his team, urging them to come to Cambodia for direct discussions with the State Secretariat of Border Affairs’ technical team on documents and evidence concerning the Cambodia-Thailand border between Boundary Markers 52 and 59.

In a social media post on Sunday afternoon, the Prime Minister said he had listened to Mr. Um Sam An’s approximately 80-minute response to the invitation but noted that the opposition politician had not clearly addressed whether he would accept it. Samdech Thipadei said the proposed discussions aimed to demonstrate transparency, accountability, accuracy and responsibility to the Cambodian public while the border issue remained unresolved.

Regarding safety concerns, the Premier reiterated that Mr. Um Sam An and his team would be guaranteed safety throughout their stay in Cambodia and until their departure. He added that, if they did not trust the Prime Minister or the Royal Government, they could request safety monitoring by a foreign embassy in Cambodia or a civil society organisation of their choice.

Samdech Thipadei explained that choosing Cambodia as the venue for the discussions served two purposes. First, it would allow Cambodian citizens, including journalists, political party representatives, civil society organisations, students, intellectuals and members of the public, as well as Mr. Um Sam An’s supporters, to attend and witness the exchange.

Second, the Prime Minister said the discussions should go beyond exchanging documents at a table, as this alone might not resolve the questions or provide sufficient clarity. If necessary, the participants should be able to conduct on-site verification to establish the facts on the ground.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed hope that Mr. Um Sam An and his team would accept the invitation and participate in the discussions in Cambodia, saying the process would demonstrate the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability regarding the unresolved Cambodia-Thailand border issue. He also said the decision to hold the discussions in Cambodia would reflect the opposition politician’s level of trust in and regard for Cambodian citizens living in the country.

By C. Nika