Senior Minister Keo Remy Meets Senior US Judge to Discuss Border Dispute, Human Rights
Senior Minister Keo Remy Meets Senior US Judge to Discuss Border Dispute, Human Rights
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Senior Minister and President of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), Keo Remy, met with John C. Coughenour, a senior United States district judge, on February 5, 2026, at the CHRC office in Phnom Penh.
During the meeting, Keo Remy briefed Judge Coughenour on the root causes of the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, stressing that Cambodia has consistently respected and implemented the 1904 and 1907 Franco–Siamese Conventions, which are officially recognised under international law.
He noted, however, that the Thai side — particularly certain extremist groups and politicians — continues to rely on unilaterally drawn maps that contradict the international legal framework.
The Senior Minister further alleged that, during what he described as Thai military incursions into Cambodian sovereignty, Thai armed forces used heavy weapons, cluster munitions, toxic smoke and fighter jets, including F-16, Gripen and T-50 aircraft, penetrating more than 90 kilometres into Cambodian territory. He claimed the attacks indiscriminately targeted civilian villages, infrastructure and ancient temples, particularly Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Keo Remy described such actions as serious violations of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, especially the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Despite the ceasefire agreement and the Joint Statement signed in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025, witnessed by US President Donald J. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who also serves as ASEAN Chair, the Senior Minister alleged that Thailand has continued provocative actions.
These, he said, include the use of high-frequency sound to psychologically disturb civilians, the demolition of homes, the destruction of religious statues, the looting of property, the construction of new structures within Cambodian sovereign territory aimed at erasing Cambodian national identity, and the deployment of barbed wire and containers to prevent more than 100,000 displaced Cambodian civilians from returning to their homes.
Keo Remy emphasised that Cambodia is a peace-loving nation with no intention of waging war against any country, having endured decades of conflict and fully understanding the consequences of war and the value of peace.
Nevertheless, he stressed that Cambodia has a duty to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law. He reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to resolving the border dispute peacefully, in line with the principles of the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter, international law, relevant conventions and treaties, as well as existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms.
Cambodia, he added, continues to call for respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, prioritising civilian protection. A lasting and sustainable solution, he said, can only be achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding and the sincere implementation of international law — not through force or military pressure.
In response, Judge Coughenour stated that President Trump and the American people fully support the Cambodian government’s decision to exercise restraint and maintain an unwavering commitment to a peaceful, law-based resolution of the dispute, according to the CHRC.
He also expressed disappointment over what he described as the Thai military’s unjust use of various types of weaponry in its actions against Cambodia, which he said had caused serious harm to Cambodian civilians.
At the same time, the judge praised the Cambodian government’s efforts in national development across sectors, including infrastructure and construction, as well as advancements in human rights. He highlighted the abolition of the death penalty, religious harmony, the absence of racial discrimination, and the promotion and protection of LGBTQ+ rights.
-Khmer Times-
