Cambodia Strongly Condemns Thai Authorities for Illegal Entry and Destruction of Cambodian Citizens’ Land in Banteay Meanchey Province

The Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Phnom Penh, 10 October 2025 — The Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia has issued a strong condemnation against the Sa Kaeo Provincial Administration and the Thai joint armed forces for their unlawful intrusion into Cambodian sovereign territory and the destruction of land belonging to Cambodian citizens in Prey Chan Village, O Bei Choan Commune, Ou Chrov District, Banteay Meanchey Province, on the afternoon of October 10, 2025.

In a statement released by the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, Cambodia expressed its deepest concern over the actions of the Thai side, describing them as a grave violation of international law and treaties and a serious regression that undermines regional peace, stability, and the spirit of ASEAN cooperation.

The statement emphasized that the continued encroachment and mistreatment of Cambodian citizens by the Sa Kaeo Provincial Administration and Thai armed forces constitute a clear violation of the principle of ownership under international law, which requires proper determination of jurisdiction before any action is taken. The affected area, it noted, has been under the lawful occupation and cultivation of Cambodian citizens for generations, as recognized by the Franco-Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907.

According to the Ministry, Thailand’s actions seriously contravene the international legal principle of Uti Possidetis Juris (UPJ), which stipulates that disputes over border demarcation must be resolved through bilateral mechanisms such as the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Commission (JBC). The statement accused the Thai side of acting outside international norms, resorting instead to the use of force and arbitrary application of Thai martial law on Cambodian territory — conduct the Ministry described as “unacceptable and barbaric.”

The Ministry further cited the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), asserting that the recent Thai operations may fall within the elements of crimes against humanity, particularly persecution and forcible deportation of civilians. Acts such as issuing ultimatums, threatening arrest, preventing land cultivation, encircling homes, and bulldozing private property were described as part of a systematic attack on Cambodian civilians, violating both international humanitarian law and the mandate of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

“In today’s world, unilateral territorial expansion followed by self-declaration of new borders is absolutely unacceptable,” the statement read. “Such conduct amounts to a crime of aggression and runs counter to the foundational principles of international order.”

The Ministry of Interior called upon the Thai Ministry of Interior, the Sa Kaeo Provincial Administration, and the Thai armed forces to immediately cease all illegal activities on Cambodian soil and to respect the ceasefire agreement that both sides and regional partners have painstakingly worked to uphold. The Ministry urged the Thai side to abandon any ambitions of territorial invasion and to refrain from persecuting Cambodian citizens living along the border.

It also warned against attempts to divert domestic or international public opinion by inciting cross-border conflict as a means to distract from internal issues within Thailand.

Finally, the Ministry appealed to the international community, ASEAN member states, and all relevant parties to continue supporting the application of international law to ensure peace, stability, and respect for sovereignty between Cambodia and Thailand.

“This is not only about safeguarding Cambodia’s sovereignty,” the Ministry concluded, “but also about upholding the shared cause of humanity — the preservation of peace and stability, both regionally and globally, in accordance with the principles of world order.”