(Phnom Penh): The Royal Government of Cambodia formally lodged a strong protest against Thailand's continued violations of Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the areas of Samraong City and Banteay Ampil District, Oddar Meanchey Province, according to a press release seen by Fresh News on Saturday (Jul. 11).

According to the statement, between 5 and 7 July 2026, Thai armed forces excavated the ground to construct an earthen embankment and installed barbed wire running from north to south of Boundary Pillar No. 14 in Sangkat O Smach, Samraong City, Oddar Meanchey Province. Subsequently, on 9 July 2026, Thai armed forces allegedly encroached into Cambodian territory to install barbed wire in the vicinity of Boundary Pillar No. 22 in Thmor Daun Village, Kork Morn Commune, Banteay Ampil District, Oddar Meanchey Province.

The Royal Government stated that these activities constitute clear violations of Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity as defined and delimited by the 1:200,000-scale maps produced by the Commissions of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam pursuant to the Franco-Siamese Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907.

According to the statement, the activities also violate Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary (MoU 2000), signed on 14 June 2000, as well as Point 2 and Point 6 of Item I (De-escalation Measures) of the Joint Statement adopted at the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on 27 December 2025.

The Royal Government of Cambodia reiterated that it does not recognise any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand, stressing that the aforementioned activities shall not prejudice the legal rights or position of the Kingdom of Cambodia with regard to its international boundary.

The Royal Government of Cambodia urged Thailand to immediately cease such activities in the above-mentioned areas, as well as in any other areas unlawfully occupied by Thai forces since last year, with a view to de-escalating tensions, fostering mutual trust, facilitating the peaceful settlement of disputes, and restoring peace, stability and good-neighbourly relations along the Cambodia–Thailand border.

Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all boundary disputes with Thailand, as with all its neighbours, exclusively through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements, while firmly upholding its principled position that international borderlines must not be altered by force.
=FRESH NEWS