Cambodia Protests Alleged Thai Land-Clearing and Buddha Statue Installation
Cambodia Protests Alleged Thai Land-Clearing and Buddha Statue Installation
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 22, 2026 — Cambodia has lodged another formal protest against Thailand, alleging that Thai armed forces accompanied by Buddhist monks installed a Buddha statue in a border area of Oddar Meanchey Province following land-clearing activities.
According to a Sept. 21 press release from Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), the installation took place on Sept. 18 in the Phnom Beng area of Anlong Veng District, between Boundary Pillars No. 2 and No. 3.
The Cambodian government said the move constituted another instance of what it described as Thailand’s use of religious structures and symbols to consolidate what Phnom Penh considers an unlawful occupation of Cambodian territory.
Cambodia said the activity violated its sovereignty and territorial integrity as defined by the 1:200,000-scale maps associated with the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and the 1907 Treaty.
The MFAIC also cited Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and Thailand on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary, as well as the de-escalation measures contained in the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee on Dec. 27, 2025.
“Cambodia does not accept any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand,” the ministry said, adding that the latest activity would not prejudice Cambodia’s legal rights or position concerning its international boundary.
The statement further called on Thailand to cease what Cambodia described as unlawful activities and refrain from further unilateral actions.
Cambodia said it remains committed to de-escalating tensions, building mutual trust and maintaining peace and good-neighbourliness along the border.
The government also reiterated that it intends to resolve boundary disputes with Thailand exclusively through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements.
“Borderlines must not be changed by force,” the Cambodian government said.
The latest protest adds to a series of diplomatic statements by Phnom Penh concerning alleged Thai activities along disputed sections of the Cambodia-Thailand border. Thailand’s position on the specific incident described in the Sept. 21 Cambodian statement was not included in the release.
