Quiet, far from still: Thais build bunkers, destroy homes as Cambodia rejects anti-scam ‘pretext’

- A Thai soldier guards an alleged scam centre which has been occupied by Thai forces since December 2025. ANN

Cambodia has lodged another strong protest against Thailand over a series of activities along the border, including the construction of fortifications, the drilling of a well and the demolition of Cambodian homes and other structures.

Phnom Penh described the activities as continuing violations of Cambodia’s territorial integrity, while rejecting what it called Thailand’s “use of crime-fighting as a pretext” for occupying Cambodian territory and asserting administrative authority over it.

In a September 8 press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation noted that the Royal Government has issued repeated formal protests against Thai actions in areas that it claims have been illegally occupied by Thai forces since December 2025.

According to the ministry, the Thai military demolished two civilian homes in the Boeung Trakoun area of Trapeang Samraong village, Kork Romeat commune, Thmar Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, on August 31.

Following the demolitions, Thai forces reportedly used heavy machinery to level the ground and construct an earthen embankment, which Cambodia said laid the foundations for a permanent military structure, said the statement.

From September 1 to 3, the soldiers constructed additional fortifications near O Khla Khmum pagoda in O Smach commune, of Oddar Meanchey province’s Samraong town, it added.

The ministry reported further activity in Banteay Meanchey province from September 4 to 7, accusing Thai forces of drilling a well in Chouk Chey village, O Beichoan commune, O Chrov district.

On September 7, the Thai forces also demolished Cambodian civilian structures in Prey Chan village, in the same commune and district, it added.

On the same day, Thai Air Chief Marshal Prapas Somchaidee escorted members of the ASEAN Observer Team in Thailand (AOT-TH), along with Thai and international media representatives, on an inspection tour of the Royal O Smach Hotel and Resort in O Smach, allegedly a former scam centre.

Cambodia maintains that the buildings are located within its territory, in an area that Thai forces have illegally occupied since December 2025.

“This unauthorised visit amounts to [an] unlawful assertion of Thai administrative authority over Cambodian territory. Cambodia rejects claims of suppressing crimes as a pretext for territorial violation,” the ministry said.

Thai media reported that the delegation entered through the Chong Chom permanent border crossing in Surin province’s Kap Choeng district to inspect an area of more than 80 hectares that Thai forces took control of following the second round of border clashes.

According to the report, the site comprised 157 buildings, 29 of which Thai officials alleged were previously used for online scam operations.

The ministry reiterated that Thailand’s activities not only violated Cambodian sovereignty, but also breached the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary.

The agreement, signed on June 14, 2000, sets out a bilateral framework for surveying and demarcating the shared land border.

The activities also violated the Joint Statement of the third Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC), held on December 27, 2025, the ministry added.

Under that statement, both sides agreed to task the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) with resuming survey and demarcation work at the earliest opportunity, in accordance with existing bilateral agreements.

Cambodia warned that constructing fortifications, altering the physical condition of the land, demolishing civilian property and bringing third parties into contested areas without mutual consent could be construed as an attempt to “create new facts on the ground” and undermined efforts to settle the border dispute peacefully.

The government reiterated that it does not accept any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand.

It added that Thai activities would not be allowed to prejudice Cambodia’s legal rights or its position regarding the international boundary.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia demands that Thailand cease such unlawful actions and maintain its commitment to de-escalating the situation, fostering mutual trust [and] facilitating the peaceful settlement of disputes,” the ministry said.

It explained that such steps were necessary to restore peace, stability and good-neighbourly relations along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

The ministry maintained that Cambodia remains committed to resolving all border disputes with Thailand – as with its other neighbours – exclusively through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements.

Phnom Penh nevertheless stressed that it would continue to uphold its position that national borders must not be altered through the use of force.

Thailand had not publicly responded to Cambodia’s latest protest as of press time.

-Phnom Penh Post-