Thailand Has No Legal Jurisdiction Over Cambodian Citizens on Cambodian Soil

ដោយ៖ ម៉ម សុគន្ធ | ថ្ងៃព្រហស្បតិ៍ ទី២៤ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០២៥ English ទស្សនៈ-នយោបាយ ព័ត៌មានជាតិ 1030

Khmer Times | As a leading legal institution committed to the defense of sovereignty, the rule of law, and the rights of Cambodian citizens, SK Law Office issues the following statement regarding recent efforts by Thai authorities to summon or press charges against Cambodians who have publicly opposed Thai military presence near Ta Mone Thom and other sacred heritage sites:

Thailand holds no legal or diplomatic jurisdiction over Cambodian nationals acting within Cambodia’s internationally recognized territory. Any such attempt to intimidate, summon, or criminalize Cambodian voices amounts to an extraterritorial overreach in violation of both international law and the principles of peaceful coexistence.

Cambodian citizens have a fundamental right to speak out against foreign encroachment and to defend their ancestral land, culture, and sovereignty — especially when such actions are backed by historical facts, territorial judgments, and national dignity.

We further underscore the following legal points:

The 1962 and 2013 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decisions uphold Cambodia’s sovereignty over Preah Vihear and its adjacent zones. Continued Thai activity around Ta Mone Thom, Ta Mone Touch, and Ta Krabey runs counter to these rulings.
Cambodia’s internal affairs — including peaceful protest, speech, or legal commentary — fall solely under Cambodian jurisdiction, and any cross-border interference is unlawful and politically provocative.
International legal standards, including the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter, prohibit interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.

We call upon the Thai authorities to immediately withdraw all claims against Cambodian individuals and to refrain from any further diplomatic coercion or legal posturing that could destabilize the region.

Cambodia’s legal community stands united in its commitment to safeguard the rights of its citizens and to uphold the principles of international law. No citizen should be subjected to foreign threats for speaking out in defense of their homeland. We urge all parties to pursue peaceful dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to legal norms to preserve regional harmony and protect the dignity of our nations.

Issued by:
Samantha Yem
Attorney-at-Law
Founder: SK LAW OFFICE, Cambodia
SK & SCOTT LAW FIRM, Washington D.C., United States.
Email: samantha@sk-laws.com | Tel: +855 12 222 578

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