Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet, expressed a desire for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the ongoing border conflict with Thailand. The dispute, which has spanned decades, resulted in multiple clashes last year, leading to casualties and a significant displacement of people.
In an exclusive interview with AFP in Brussels, Hun Manet emphasized Cambodia’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and the need for de-escalation. Recent tensions escalated when Thailand’s military accused Cambodian forces of launching an attack near a Thai patrol, triggering a response that Cambodia denies.
Cambodia alleges that Thai forces have occupied areas in border provinces and has requested their withdrawal. On the other hand, Thailand claims to have reclaimed land that historically belonged to them but had been occupied by Cambodians for an extended period.
While Hun Manet did not disclose the extent of the land captured by Thai forces, he indicated that they had crossed what Thailand recognizes as the border. When questioned about the possibility of military action to regain lost territory, he reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to seeking de-escalation and peaceful solutions.
The border conflict between the two nations, rooted in a dispute over the French colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer frontier, has persisted for over a century. Seeking a resolution, Phnom Penh has sought assistance from France for historical documents and maps and called for the joint border commission to resume its work on resolving the issue.