Cambodian Prime Minister Accuses Thailand of Territorial Occupation Amid Ceasefire

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has accused Thai forces of occupying Cambodian territory, despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. In his first international media interview since taking office in 2023, Hun Manet described the border situation as "fragile" and called for Thailand to permit a joint boundary commission to address the disputed areas. This accusation comes in the wake of renewed fighting in July 2022, which resulted in significant displacement and disruption along the 508-mile border.

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The conflict escalated dramatically last year, leading to the worst fighting in over a decade. An October 2022 peace accord, which involved Trump and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, quickly fell apart, necessitating a new ceasefire reached on December 27, 2022. Hun Manet stated that Thai troops had established positions deep within Cambodian territory, laying shipping containers and barbed wire, which he claims violates Cambodia's sovereignty.

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Hun Manet expressed hope that Thailand would agree to allow the joint boundary commission to commence its work, which had been stalled due to Thailand's recent elections. He emphasized the need for technical demarcation efforts to restore normalcy in the border region. "Now the election is done, we hope that Thailand can start, at least on a technical level, to start measuring, start demarcating in the hot zone," he stated.

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Hun Manet's leadership has coincided with a warming of relations between Cambodia and the United States, a shift from the previous administration's closer ties with China. He asserted that Cambodia's relationships with both China and the U.S. are not mutually exclusive, emphasizing the country's sovereignty in foreign policy decisions. Hun Manet also addressed human rights concerns, noting that while Cambodia has faced criticism, it has maintained strong security cooperation with the U.S.

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In response to Hun Manet's accusations, the Thai government has maintained that its troop presence is part of de-escalation measures and has denied any claims of territorial occupation. The Thai foreign ministry did not immediately comment on the situation following Hun Manet's statements.

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Critics of Hun Manet's government have pointed to ongoing human rights issues in Cambodia, including a low ranking in the World Press Freedom Index, where it placed 161 out of 180 countries. The U.S. Treasury Department has previously imposed sanctions on individuals linked to cyber scams operating from Cambodia, highlighting ongoing concerns about governance and law enforcement in the country.

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• "We still have Thai forces occupy(ing) deep into Cambodian territory in many areas." — Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia

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• "This is not an accusation but it’s a statement of the facts on the ground.” — Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia

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• "As for Cambodia, to choose (a) relationship … China or U.S. or U.S. over China, is not our choice." — Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia

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The situation remains tense as both nations navigate the complexities of their border dispute and international relations.

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