Foreign ministry reissues call for Thais to cease ‘illegal activities’ on Kingdom’s soil
Thai soldiers and monks reportedly constructed this Buddha statue on Cambodian soil. FB
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Cambodia has repeated its protests against “numerous illegal activities” being conducted by the Thai government in at least 15 locations on Cambodian territory. The areas have been occupied since the December 27 ceasefire.
In a March 17 press release, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation warned that since the ceasefire came into effect, Thailand has conducted numerous illegal activities. These include constructing bunkers, roads and Buddha statues, and raising Thai flags, among other activities, on occupied Cambodian territory.
In the area southeast of Tamone Thom Temple in Oddar Meanchey province, Thai armed forces have used heavy machinery to excavate land and construct fortifications. In the Mom Bei area of Preah Vihear province, specifically around Hill 469, they have engaged in land-clearing, road construction and the building of several permanent structures, including one of the Buddha.
In Thma Daun village, Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province, Thai armed forces have carried out land-clearing and constructed roads and other permanent structures in the western part of the Domnak Sdach area, while in the An Seh area of Preah Vihear province, they have cleared land, built roads and permanent structures, and raised the Thai national flag.
“Similar activities have been observed in many locations, including around the An Seh International Point of Entry, O Phka Sne, Hill 677, and Hill 500, where Thai armed forces, together with Thai monks, have constructed a Buddha statue,” the ministry stated.
Land-clearing and the construction of roads and permanent concrete structures within Cambodian sovereign territory have also occurred in the Ta Thav area of Preah Vihear Province, including around Daun Tun Temple, Hill 505, and the Ta Thav Point of Entry area.
Furthermore, in the Ta Sem and Chak Chreng areas of Preah Vihear Province, Thai armed forces have conducted land-clearing and constructed roads and permanent infrastructure, said the ministry.
In the areas of Ta Thav and Phnom Trap in Preah Vihear province, as well as O Smach and the Khnar Temple Complex in Oddar Meanchey province, Thai forces and monks have constructed several Buddha statues at various locations within Cambodian territory.
“These areas are situated entirely within the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as defined and delimited by the 1:200,000 scale maps of the Commissions of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, pursuant to the Franco-Siamese Convention of 1904 and the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907,” said the ministry.
“Cambodia calls upon Thailand to immediately cease the activities conducted in the above-mentioned areas or in any other area under similar circumstances, refrain from any further unilateral actions in the above area, and ensure the full and good-faith implementation of all relevant agreements and arrangements between the two countries, with a view to de-escalating the situation, fostering mutual trust and confidence, and preserving peace, stability and good neighbourliness along the Cambodia-Thailand border,” it added.
It said Cambodia reaffirms its consistent and unwavering commitment to seeking an amicable resolution to all boundary disputes with Thailand through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and bilateral agreements, while remaining resolute in upholding its principled position that borderlines must not be changed by force.
-Phnom Penh Post-
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