Cambodia slams Thai ‘anti-scam’ pretext for illegal occupation

The Secretariat of the Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee meets at the Choam-Sa Ngam International Point of Entry in Anlong Veng district, Oddar Meanchey province, on Monday. Ministry of National Defence

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Synopsis: Thai military personnel escort FBI officers to alleged fraud compounds in Oddar Meanchey province’s O’Smach area, which Phnom Penh claims has been illegally occupied since December.

Cambodia condemned the Thai military for using anti-scam operations as a cover to entrench its unlawful occupation of Cambodian territory in O’Smach, Oddar Meanchey province, warning that the presence of foreign military attachés at the disputed site amounts to an attempt to legitimise encroachment on an internationally recognised border checkpoint.

A high-ranking Cambodian government official strongly rejected the illegitimate exercise of Thai sovereignty through law enforcement activities at alleged scam centres in O’Smach.

“Cambodia fully supports international cooperation to combat transnational cybercrime including online scams and human trafficking. However, we firmly reject the Thai military’s efforts to solidify the illegitimate occupation of Cambodian sovereign territory, under the guise of anti-scam law enforcement” the official told Khmer Times.

On Monday, the Thai military escorted foreign military attachés and officers from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to alleged scam facilities in O’Smach. The area has been illegally occupied by the Thai army following three weeks of military assaults on Cambodia in December. The official said the visit was a pretext to justify continued Thai army presence on Cambodian soil.

“O’Smach has been an international border crossing since 2002, as agreed upon by both sides. The presence of foreign military attachés there clearly serves as evidence that Thai soldiers have indeed encroached upon and are illegally occupying Cambodian territory, beyond any dispute,” the official added.

Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Defence, said a meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC) was held on Monday morning at the Choam-Sa Ngam International Point of Entry in Anlong Veng district, Oddar Meanchey province.

The meeting brought together representatives of Cambodia’s Military Region 4 and Thailand’s Army Area 2 and was conducted under the observation of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) from both countries.

Lt Gen Socheata said the two sides were unable to reach common ground during the discussion. As a result, both parties agreed to return to their respective headquarters to continue exchanging documents and negotiations until a consensus is achieved.

She added that once an agreement is reached, it will be followed by a formal signing ceremony and a meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Military Region Border Committee between Cambodia’s 4th Military Region and Thailand’s 2nd Army Area.

The special RBC meeting was held in the spirit of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting

of the General Border Committee (GBC), which took place on December 27.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implementing the outcomes of that meeting, while continuing efforts to ease border tensions and promote practical cooperation aimed at maintaining regional peace, stability and a swift return to normalcy.

The Ministry of Interior yesterday reported that more than 84% of civilians displaced by the border conflict have returned home following the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand.

In a press release, the ministry said Cambodia continues to monitor the “dishonest activities” of the Thai side, while addressing the hardships faced by civilians affected by Thai aggression last year.

However, 104,099 displaced persons remain in camps, including 55,049 women and 33,696 children.

The ministry said it is working closely with provincial administrations and ministries to restore livelihoods and resume suspended public services, while prioritising protection and comprehensive support for families unable to return home.

Some essential public services remain temporarily suspended in border provinces.

In Oddar Meanchey province, 14 schools and seven hospitals or health centres remain closed. In Banteay Meanchey province, five schools and one hospital or health centre are still shut.

Meanwhile, in Preah Vihear province, 29 schools and 14 hospitals or health centres remain temporarily closed.

The ministry also detailed widespread destruction of public infrastructure since December 7.

Private property that has been damaged includes 980 houses, seven buildings, 10 apartments or hotels, four petrol stations, a private market, 34 cars, 10 motorcycles, a cassava warehouse, a storage warehouse, three cell towers, six water reservoirs and treatment facilities, and a rice barn.

Public property that has been damaged includes 26 schools, 14 hospitals or health centres, 42 government office buildings, 19 pagodas, an almsgiving hall, two statues, a vehicle, four ancient temples, five bridges, a market, 87 road sections, an electricity supply facility, and three electricity transmission lines.

The ministry expressed full support for Senate President Hun Sen, who has stated that Cambodia will not make any concessions that compromise its sovereignty or dignity.

It also cited remarks made on January 31 by Prime Minister Hun Manet, who reaffirmed that the government maintains its demand for the return of Cambodia’s territorial integrity in accordance with the law, without ceding any territory.

The Prime Minister added that all ceasefire agreements do not involve territorial concessions or land exchanges, and that any border resolution must be strictly based on international law, including technical surveying and management processes.

The Ministry of Interior urged citizens to strengthen national unity and solidarity in support of the government’s peaceful approach, emphasising that Cambodia rejects the use of weapons or violence in resolving disputes and instead relies on diplomatic mechanisms and lawful technical border processes under international law.

It called on ASEAN, the international community, and the UN to continue supporting a peaceful resolution in accordance with international law and the principle of non-use of force against the territorial integrity of any state.

The ministry urged citizens to remain united and avoid being influenced by extremist opposition groups accused of spreading false information and undermining national unity.

-Khmer Times-
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