Phnom penh: Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea said Tuesday that the situation along the Thai border remains 'fragile' with Thailand's actions designed to alter the boundary between the two countries by force. 'Cambodia faces a grave challenge to its territorial integrity,' he told a high-level meeting in Belgrade commemorating the 65th anniversary of the first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted unilateral actions by Thailand despite existing agreements and the binding judgments of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). These actions include the installation of barbed wire, the construction of permanent infrastructure, and the displacement of Cambodian civilians deep inside Cambodian territory. He emphasized that such actions are intended to alter borders by force, which is in violation of international law and NAM's founding principles.
While the December ceasefire has halted armed clashes, the situation remains fragile due to the forced eviction of Cambodian civilians who have lived in the affected areas for generations. The deputy prime minister stated that Cambodia has consistently exercised restraint and remains committed to dialogue and peaceful settlement of all outstanding issues, adhering to bilateral agreements and international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of ASEAN.
H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to a peaceful resolution consistent with NAM's legacy. He called upon Thailand to cease all activities in Cambodian territory, fully implement existing agreements, and resume bilateral mechanisms in good faith. He urged respect for international law, the judgments of the ICJ, and the rights of displaced civilians to return safely to their homes.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed Cambodia's rejection of aggression against its sovereignty and its refusal to accept unilateral measures that undermine peace, destabilize communities, and erode trust between the two nations. He also mentioned Cambodia's commitment to resolving maritime differences through the compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), highlighting it as a peaceful mechanism to address maritime boundary issues.
The first conference of NAM leaders in Belgrade in 1961 originated from the Bandung Conference of Asian and African leaders hosted by Indonesia in 1955, with Cambodia's then head of state, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, participating in both events.