Banteay meanchey: The ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) has visited displaced civilians in Rong Jam village, Slar Kram commune, Svay Chek district, Banteay Meanchey province, as part of its mission to observe and assess the current conditions related to the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border situation.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, According to a press release issued by the Ministry of National Defence's spokeswoman, the visit, which took place at 9:15 a.m., was coordinated by the Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG). The observer mission was led by the AOT's Head of Mission from the Philippines. The primary goal of this visit was to observe, verify, and evaluate the circumstances of displaced civilians who have not yet been able to return home due to the illegal occupation of Cambodian territory by Thai military forces. The occupation includes the deployment of barbed wire, shipping containers, and the destruction of civilian houses.
The Ministry emphasized the importance of advancing border demarcation work through the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) mechanism. This initiative aligns with Point 3 of the Joint Statement from the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) dated December 27, 2025, which prioritizes facilitating the safe, peaceful, and dignified return of affected civilians.
The statement also reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to protecting the Cambodia-Thailand international border as established by the Indochina-Siam Boundary Commission. It stressed the importance of respecting international law principles, including the principle of the intangibility of inherited borders (Uti Possidetis Juris), and adhering to the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, maps, and the proc¨s-verbaux of the Commission of the Abornement of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, as well as relevant agreements and documents previously agreed upon by both parties.
Cambodia reiterated its stance that it does not recognize any alteration of borders through the use of force and reaffirmed its support for resolving border-related issues through agreed legal and diplomatic frameworks.