AOT Examines Reported Thai Military Presence in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey

AOT Examines Reported Thai Military Presence in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey

PHNOM PENH, 27 August 2026 — The ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH) conducted a field visit on Thursday to observe, verify and report on the situation along the Cambodia–Thailand border, including areas where Cambodia says Thai military forces have deployed shipping containers, installed barbed wire, constructed trenches, embankments and roads, and occupied Cambodian territory.

The visit, coordinated by the Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) and led by the Head of Mission of AOT-KH from the Philippines, took place at the O’ Smach International Point of Entry and the O’ Kla Khmom area in O’ Smach District, Samrong Municipality, Oddar Meanchey Province.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, the reported developments have prevented 366 Cambodian civilians, or 98 families, from returning to their homes. The affected group includes 190 women and 101 children, the ministry said.

Cambodia said the ASEAN Observer Team’s observation and verification of the situation underscore the urgent need for the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resume border demarcation work as soon as possible.

The Cambodian side linked the call to Point 4 of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on 27 December 2025, which, according to the statement, seeks to ensure that affected citizens can return to their homes safely, peacefully and with dignity without obstruction.

Cambodia also reaffirmed its position that the Cambodia–Thailand international border must be protected in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements and boundary documents, including the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, boundary maps and records, the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2000) and the 2003 Terms of Reference (TOR 2003).

The Ministry of National Defence said Cambodia does not recognize any border alteration resulting from the use of force or what it describes as illegal territorial occupation aimed at creating a fait accompli on the ground.

It added that Cambodia would continue to formally protest against what it characterized as unilateral or abusive actions by Thailand affecting Cambodia’s territorial integrity.

The statement was issued on Thursday, 27 August 2026, and described as an unofficial translation.