ASEAN Observer Team visits displaced families in Preah Vihear

ASEAN Observer Team inspects conditions at border displacement centre. MoD

The ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH) visited a safety centre in Preah Vihear province today to observe the living conditions of hundreds of families displaced by the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute.

According to the Ministry of National Defence, the Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) coordinated the field visit for the ASEAN Observer Team, led by its Philippine Head of Mission, to Wat Peung Angkam Safety Centre, also known as Wat Bak Kam, in Chhean Mok Commune, Tbeng Meanchey District.

The safety centre is currently sheltering 295 displaced families who, according to the ministry, remain unable to return to their homes.

The ministry said the visit enabled ASEAN observers to meet displaced civilians and assess their living conditions while monitoring the implementation of measures following the Cambodia–Thailand ceasefire.

It stated that many families are still unable to return to their homes due to the illegal occupation of Cambodian territory by Thai military forces in several areas, characterised by the installation of barbed wire fences, the placement of shipping containers, and the destruction of their residences.

The ASEAN Observer Team’s (AOT) observation, verification, and visit to displaced civilians who remain unable to return home underscore the absolute necessity for the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to launch border demarcation work as soon as possible. This alignment adheres to existing agreements, specifically point three of the Joint Statement from the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on December 27, last year, to ensure that our citizens can safely, peacefully, and with dignity return to their homes without any obstruction.

Cambodia maintains a firm stance on protecting the Cambodia–Thailand international border as established by the Indochina–Siam Boundary Commission, by respecting the principles of international law, including the principle of the intangibility of inherited borders (Uti Possidetis Juris), and by respecting the Franco–Siamese conventions and treaties, maps, and the procès-verbaux of the Commission of the Abornement of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, as well as relevant agreements and documents that both parties have previously agreed upon.

The Ministry reiterated that Cambodia does not recognise any alteration of the international border resulting from the use of force.

-Khmer Times-