Military Attachés Corps visited Chey Chomneas Border Checkpoint in Pursat province. Photo from Information Minister Neth Pheaktra
By: Teng Yalirozy
June 20, 2026, 12:00 PM
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has filed another protest against Thailand’s armed forces' ongoing encroachment activities in Pursat and Oddar Meanchey provinces, demanding the cessation of all unilateral actions on Cambodian soil.
In a statement issued on June 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reported that the Thai armed forces on June 17 had raised Thai national flags at the Thmor Da International Border Checkpoint in Pursat and set fire to a warehouse located on the Royal O’ Smach Hotel and Resort grounds in Oddar Meanchey.
The Thai forces also built concrete fences in the area of Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, the ministry stated, adding that Thailand is violating Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as defined by the 1:200,000-scale maps.
However, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul refused to use the maps produced by the Commissions for the Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam pursuant to the Franco-Siamese Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907. Instead, he said that Thailand is now using the 1:50,000-scale map, which further complicates the issue and escalates the border situation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Thailand’s activities are contrary to the bilateral agreements between Cambodia and Thailand established on Dec. 27, 2025, to defuse tensions and restore normal civilian life along the border.
These actions violate Article 5 of the MOU 2000 on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary between Cambodia and Thailand, which prohibits both countries from undertaking any activities that alter the border areas, except as permitted by the technical committee.
“Cambodia does not recognize any boundary line established through use of force or any unilateral territorial claim asserted by Thailand,” the ministry stressed. “Cambodia calls upon Thailand to immediately cease all unilateral actions in the above-mentioned areas or in any other areas under similar circumstances, with a view to de-escalating the situation, building mutual trust and confidence, and preserving peace, stability, and good neighbourliness along the Cambodia-Thailand border.”
Prime Minister Hun Manet urged Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during talks in Kazan on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia commemorative summit to continue the compulsory conciliation process under UNCLOS and to address border disputes through existing peaceful mechanisms.
Cambodia on June 5 denounced a Thai soldier who poured gasoline on and set fire to the 1,181-step wooden staircase leading to K'nar Temple. The staircase, built by the Cambodian authorities in 2017, extends approximately 325 meters to the temple.
In May, the Thai military set up at least 36 Buddhist statues at several locations in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces, while two flagpoles have been erected in Preah Vihear Province.
On June 15, Cambodia formally renewed its request for Thailand to deploy a joint survey team and resume long-stalled border demarcation work, accusing Bangkok of prolonging delays despite having completed the formation of its government.
While Thailand has installed a new prime minister and cabinet since its national elections held in February 2026, the government has still not officially appointed the chairperson and members of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), preventing the resumption of survey and demarcation activities.
Hun Manet said he urged Anutin to appoint its JBC chair and begin joint survey and demarcation work as soon as possible, in line with Point 3 of the ceasefire agreement signed on 27 December 2025.
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