Cambodia and AOT verify ceasefire compliance

The ASEAN Observer Team observes, verifies, and reports on the situation at the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, yesterday. Ministry of Defence

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Synopsis: The missions to the border document severe damage to civilian sites, including the Preah Vihear Temple.

Following December 26 ceasefire with Thailand, Cambodia has intensified efforts to ensure transparency and compliance through close cooperation with ASEAN observers.

The Cambodian Coordination Group (CLG), in coordination with the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), conducted a series of observation and verification missions to assess damage at key civilian and cultural sites along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Defence, said that since the ceasefire took effect, Cambodia has consistently respected and fully implemented the ceasefire and all related agreements. These include the Joint Statement on the Peace Agreement between Cambodia and Thailand on October 26, 2025 and the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodian-Thai General Boundary Committee (GBC) on December 27 the same year.

She noted that Cambodia has always provided full support to the AOT and underscored the indispensable importance of strengthening the AOT’s role and mandate to verify and ensure the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire. Such efforts, she said, are essential to promoting transparency, accountability and mutual trust between the parties.

During the first week of January, the CLG, in coordination with the AOT, observed, verified and reported on the situation at several locations in Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey provinces.

All sites inspected were civilian areas or public infrastructure, including World Heritage Sites such as the Preah Vihear Temple, which was severely damaged by Thai military attacks.

The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts reported extensive damage to the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding areas following artillery and aerial attacks by the Thai military last year.

Assessments indicate the destruction of major architectural structures at the UNESCO-listed site, as well as significant disruption to conservation and restoration efforts.

Damage recorded between December 7 and 27 was far more extensive than that documented in July. According to photographic and video evidence collected during a documentation mission conducted on December 28, nearly all major architectural structures of the temple—from Gopura I to Gopura V, including all connecting causeways and the ancient northern staircase—sustained severe damage. This destruction resulted from repeated heavy artillery shelling and aerial bombardments carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles and fighter aircraft, directly targeting the heritage site.

The observation and verification missions covered the following locations: O’Chik Bridge between Chongkal district, Oddar Meanchey province, and Srey Snam district, Siem Reap province; the Choam International Border Gate in Anlong Veng district, Oddar Meanchey province; Prey Chan and Chork Chey villages in O’Beichoan Commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province; O’Smach International Border Gate area in O’Smach Commune, Samraong City, Oddar Meanchey Province; and the Boeng Trakuon Border Gate area in Thmar Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province.

In addition, the AOT visited displaced civilians at the Wat Kandol refugee camp in Thmar Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province.

The team yesterday observed, verified and reported on the situation of rural communities in Sra Em commune, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province.

-Khmer Times-