Plunder by Thai troops inside Cambodia sparks warning

Plunder by Thai troops inside Cambodia sparks warning

#National

While Thai forces continue to seize civilian property and destroy belongings inside Cambodian territory, analysts say it is a warning signal rather than an irreversible rupture, necessitating the urgency of diplomatic and legal mechanisms to prevent escalation.

The warning came after the Ministry of Interior reported multiple incidents and videos on social media showing Thai forces allegedly entering Cambodian territory. The footage reportedly showed soldiers usurping civilian property, including motorcycles, and destroying homes and personal belongings of Cambodian civilians.

Phy Veasna, a geopolitical and policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), described the actions of the Thai troops as serious violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty and international law.

“Unauthorised military incursions and seizure of civilian property undermine territorial integrity and risk destabilising bilateral relations,” he said.

Veasna added that disputes over unilaterally drawn maps by Thailand, which are not recognised by Cambodia or the international community, have fuelled recurring tensions along the border.

Cambodia shares more than 800 kilometres of land border with Thailand, extending from Preah Vihear province in the north to Koh Kong province in the southwest. This border has long been a source of disputes between the two countries.

Legal expert Sok Sam Oeun noted that any violation occurring after a ceasefire could be considered an act of provocation.

“Such incidents can be seen as breaches of ceasefire commitments,” he said.

Geopolitical analyst Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said Cambodia-Thailand relations have historically followed a cyclical pattern, alternating between cooperation and border-related crises. He emphasised that incidents affecting civilians often spark nationalist sentiments and political pressure in both countries.

“Cambodia–Thailand relations have historically been cyclical, marked by periods of cooperation punctuated by border-related crises. Incidents involving armed forces, especially those resulting in injuries, casualties, or diplomatic downgrades, tend to trigger nationalist sentiment, media escalation, and political pressure on both governments,” he said.

He added that the incident represents a significant strain on Cambodia–Thailand relations but not an irreversible rupture. It is a warning signal rather than a point of no return.

According to the UN Charter (Article 2), any unauthorised entry of foreign armed forces into another state’s territory, whether by ground patrols, use of force, or emplacement of military equipment, prima facie raises concerns of a violation of sovereignty.

– Khmer Times-