Phnom penh: Minister of Information of Cambodia, H.E. Neth Pheaktra, has made a public statement emphasizing that military force cannot alter the established Cambodia-Thailand border. In a Facebook post dated August 30, he urged the Thai government to adhere to the legal framework governing the border issues between the two countries.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Neth Pheaktra's message explicitly stated that the deployment of military assets and infrastructure does not define international boundaries. Such actions, he noted, may result in physical control or presence but do not equate to legal sovereignty. He emphasized that the Cambodia-Thailand boundary is based on historical legal documents, including the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, and not on military presence or actions on the ground.
In the contested areas of Boeung Trakuon, Prey Chan village, and Chouk Chey village, the ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia has conducted observations to assess the situation. Data from Cambodian authorities revealed that 116 shipping containers were placed at 24 locations, and 13,259 Cambodian citizens from 3,318 families, including 3,416 children, remain displaced. Satellite imagery has documented the destruction or clearance of over 627 structures in these areas following a December 2025 ceasefire by Thai forces.
The December 27, 2025, agreement between Cambodia and Thailand is crucial in this context. Both countries agreed to maintain their troop positions without further movement, ensuring that these arrangements would not affect the demarcation of the international boundary. The Joint Boundary Commission is tasked with continuing the survey and demarcation process.
H.E. Neth Pheaktra underscored that any claims to territory must be validated through legal documents and recognized mechanisms, not through aggressive actions or unlawful maps. He reiterated that the historical and legal foundations for the boundary are grounded in the Franco-Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907 and the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding.
The statement concludes by asserting that verbal denials are insufficient. Any claims of lawful actions must be supported by legal evidence, allowing the agreed boundary-demarcation mechanisms to function. Military presence and actions on the ground cannot replace treaties, maps, and the rule of law.