Cambodia accuses Thailand of annexing a border village and violating the truce
In a dramatic development that threatens to undermine fragile peace efforts in Southeast Asia, the Cambodian government announced on Friday that Thai forces had seized control of a disputed border village, accusing Bangkok of forcibly annexing the area. This escalation comes just a week after a ceasefire agreement was reached aimed at ending the bloody fighting that had erupted along the border between the two countries.
Details of the Cambodian charges
Cambodian Information Minister Neth Phektra stated that the Thai army had begun an "illegal annexation" of Cambodian territory, specifically in the village of Chuk Che. The minister explained that Thai forces had not only deployed militarily but had also taken steps to establish a fait accompli by damaging civilian buildings, erecting barbed wire, and placing shipping containers in preparation for constructing a border wall.
Viktra stated that "raising the Thai flag over the area constitutes a unilateral assertion of sovereignty through the use of military force," emphasizing that Phnom Penh will not recognize any geographical changes imposed by military might. The ministry based its position on maps showing a Thai incursion up to 750 meters into territory that Cambodia considers its own, according to its own border demarcation.
The Thai narrative: Reclaiming occupied territories
In response, the Thai military categorically rejected these accusations. In an official statement that lacked precise geographical locations, the military asserted that its actions aimed to reclaim areas historically under Thai sovereignty, describing the previous Cambodian presence there as an "occupation" and an encroachment on the kingdom's territory. The statement emphasized that Thai forces had not invaded neighboring territory but had redeployed to positions previously occupied illegally by Cambodian soldiers and civilians.
Historical context and roots of the conflict
This incident cannot be separated from the long and complex history of border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia. The border between the two countries stretches for more than 800 kilometers, and large sections of it have not been definitively and clearly demarcated, leaving room for conflicting interpretations of maps inherited from the French colonial era.
Perhaps the most prominent episode in this conflict is the well-known dispute over the ancient Preah Vihar temple, which witnessed bloody clashes between 2008 and 2011, before the International Court of Justice issued a ruling interpreting its previous decision and affirming Cambodian sovereignty over the area surrounding the temple. The current incident in Chok Chi is a continuation of this legacy of mutual distrust over the dividing lines.
Humanitarian and regional repercussions
These developments are extremely dangerous given the heavy human cost of the conflict. Reports indicate that clashes last year, particularly in December, resulted in dozens of deaths and caused massive displacement affecting more than a million people on both sides, creating a humanitarian crisis that has strained local resources.
Regionally, this conflict presents the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with a difficult test in maintaining stability between two of its key members. The international community fears that the collapse of the ceasefire reached on December 27 could lead to a renewed cycle of violence, necessitating urgent diplomatic intervention to contain the situation before it spirals out of control.
