AOT Surveys Damaged Civilian Sites in Preah Vihear Province

Terry Felix On February 26, 2026 - 1:36 pm In Asia Pacific 1mn Read

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 26, 2026 — Cambodia on Thursday facilitated a visit by an ASEAN observer team (AOT) to inspect the border situation in Preah Vihear province following the December ceasefire with Thailand, including damage to civilian homes from earlier clashes.

Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, said the Cambodian Liaison Group escorted the AOT at 1:05 p.m. local time to An Ses village in Choam Ksan district.

The delegation observed and verified developments on the ground since the ceasefire took effect on Dec. 27, 2025, and inspected civilian infrastructure, including houses that sustained heavy damage during what Cambodia described as a Thai military attack in December.

Cambodia said it had provided full support to the AOT and stressed the importance of strengthening the team’s mandate to ensure effective ceasefire implementation, transparency and mutual trust between the two countries.

Phnom Penh reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee signed on Dec. 27, 2025, as well as the Oct. 26 Joint Declaration on the Peace Agreement and other related accords.

The government said these efforts are aimed at restoring normalcy, peace and long-term stability along the border.

Thailand has previously stated it remains committed to dialogue and existing bilateral mechanisms in addressing border issues.

The Preah Vihear area, home to the UNESCO-listed temple complex near the frontier, has long been a flashpoint in Cambodia–Thailand relations.