Latest news with #MaoSophan
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hun Sen warns: Without ICJ, Cambodia/Thai border could become like Gaza
FILE - In this photo released by the Thai Royal Thai Army, Cambodian Chief of Army Mao Sophan, left, meets with Thailand Chief of Army Gen. Pana Claewplodtook, right, at a border checkpoint in Surin province, Thailand, May 29, 2025. - Thai Royal Thai Army via AP PHNOM PENH: Senate President Hun Sen has warned that if the border issues between Cambodia and Thailand are not resolved through the International Court of Justice (ICJ), it could lead to a situation like the one in Gaza, where Israel and Palestine appear to be locked in an endless conflict. Addressing a meeting of the National Assembly and Senate Joint Committee Monday, June 2, Hun Sen said that Cambodia's invitation for Thailand to join the Kingdom in filing a joint case at the ICJ was a respectful way of offering the neighbouring Kingdom a way to resolve the issue diplomatically. If Thailand continues to evade this option, he said, 'it is clear there is something hidden behind the scenes'. He noted that a 2000 memorandum of understanding signed by both countries is no longer viable, as it has been 25 years with no resolution. He also highlighted the fact that a Cambodian soldier was killed in the latest clash. 'If we don't let the court decide, this issue will be like Gaza between Palestine and Israel — never resolved, with constant fighting, whether small or large. Why fear going to court if we are sincere?' he asked. He reiterated that Cambodia has no desire to take anyone else's territory and only seeks to preserve the land borders left by French colonialism and continued under the late King Norodom Sihanouk. Cambodia has already lost vast amounts of territory, he observed. 'What remains is just a handful, and we must protect it,' he added. During the meeting, the National Assembly and Senate Joint Committee unanimously shared their support for the government's decision to take the border issue to the ICJ. Hun Sen also stated that Cambodia will appeal to the UN Security Council for intervention if any fighting erupts. Prime Minister Hun Manet, speaking at the meeting, affirmed that Cambodia is determined to bring the issue to the ICJ, whether Thailand agrees or not. While negotiations through the Joint Border Committee continue, he urged Cambodian politicians and citizens to stand behind the military. 'This is the time for our nation to unite in preparing to defend our country and territorial integrity, especially to stand behind our armed forces. Political differences can be discussed another time, but anything that affects our spirit and territory should be set aside. This is not the time for internal political gains or opposition,' he stated. - The Phnom Penh Post
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodia says it will seek World Court ruling on border disputes with Thailand that led to clash
Cambodian General Mao Sophan (front, left) and Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief General Pana Klaewplodthuk (front, right) during a meeting on May 29 near the Thai-Cambodian border after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a frontier clash. -- PHOTO: EPA-EFE via The Straits Times/ANN PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP): Cambodia's government says it plans to seek a ruling from the UN's International Court of Justice over border disputes with neighboring Thailand, one of which triggered a fatal military clash last week. Cambodia's National Assembly, where Prime Minister Hun Manet's ruling Cambodian People's Party holds all but a handful of seats, voted on Monday to support the government's decision. A 1962 ruling by the same court, awarding to Cambodia the disputed territory on which a historic temple is located, rankled Thailand and to this day remains a major irritant in bilateral relations. Thai officials did not immediately respond to Cambodia's intention to seek a ruling from the court, which is located in The Hague in the Netherlands and also known as the World Court. Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said Sunday that Thailand's actions at the border were proportionate and in line with domestic and international law. He said the situation at the border remained calm, and that both sides agreed to find solutions to ease the tension as soon as possible. The brief May 28 clash near Morokot village, in Cambodia's northwestern province of Preah Vihear, in which one Cambodian soldier was killed, began when Cambodian troops were conducting a routine patrol along the border when the Thai side opened fire, the Cambodian side says. The Thai army says that Cambodian soldiers entered a disputed patch of land and opened fire when Thai soldiers approached them to negotiate. Hun Manet in social media posts on Sunday declared that his government will ask the court to rule on the demarcation of several disputed areas, including where the centuries-old Hindu-style Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch and Ta Kro Bei temples are located. In February, Cambodian troops and their family members entered the Ta Moan Thom temple in disputed territory and sang the Cambodian national anthem, leading to a brief argument with Thai forces. After last week's flare-up, both sides quickly called for calm and talks to ease their differences, while reserving the right to use military action to safeguard their sovereignty. On Thursday, the two countries' army commanders met to discuss how to avoid more clashes. On Monday, Hun Manet called for the two countries to have their Joint Border Commission continue the work of border demarcation, as well as having the World Court take up the issue. Hun Manet's announced intention to appeal to the World Court may touch a raw nerve in Thailand, because the 1962 ruling awarding the major Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia is a touchstone issue for Thai nationalists. and wielded in domestic politics. Last year, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinatwatra's government was attacked on nationalist grounds for proposing to resume talks with Cambodia on demarcation of maritime territory believed to hold profitable hydrocarbon resources. In 2008, there were several deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thai forces at the Preah Vihear promontory, an area on which sits a 1,000-year-old temple that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that same year. In 2013, the World Court reaffirmed its 1962 ruling. Hun Manet, speaking Monday to Cambodia lawmakers, said his government would take the cases of the other disputed areas to the World Court to determine ownership even if Thailand did not join in the appeal, in order "to end this problem and extinguish it once and for all so that there is no further confusion.' "In particular, let's not fall for the incitement of a handful of extremist groups in Cambodia and Thailand, and let's not fall into the problem of confrontation by armed forces of the two countries," he said. -- Associated Press writer Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok contributed to this report.
RTHK
4 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Cambodia to lodge ICJ complaint on fatal border clash
Cambodia to lodge ICJ complaint on fatal border clash Cambodian army commander Mao Sophan, left, listens as his Royal Thai Army counterpart, Pana Klaewplodthuk, gives Bangkok's account of Wednesday's clash at the Chong Chom border crossing. Photo: AFP Cambodia will file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over border disputes with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Monday, after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a recent frontier clash. "Cambodia hopes that the Thai side will agree with Cambodia to jointly bring these issues to the International Court of Justice... to prevent armed confrontation again over border uncertainty," Hun Manet said during a meeting between MPs and senators. Military clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbours erupted in 2008 and have led to several years of sporadic violence, resulting in at least 28 deaths. The most recent occurred on Wednesday, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a location known as the Emerald Triangle – a joint border area between Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. The day after, Cambodia's foreign ministry sent a letter to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh demanding "an immediate and thorough investigation" into the "unprovoked attack". Describing the incident as "a violation of Cambodian sovereignty", Phnom Penh said it remained committed to resolving the issue through "peaceful and diplomatic avenues". Prime Minister Hun Manet said that even if the Thai side did not agree on bringing the issue to the ICJ, Cambodia would still file the complaint. He added that the border dispute was being "incited by small extremist groups in both countries", which could lead to further clashes. Cambodia's military had said they were attacked first in Wednesday's incident, while the Thai side said their soldiers were responding to gunshots. The Thai and Cambodian militaries met the following day, agreeing to ease tensions. Thailand says a Joint Boundary Committee will meet in the next two weeks to resolve the issue. The Emerald Triangle is among the areas that will be named in the ICJ complaint, Hun Manet said. Another is Ta Moan Thom Temple, the backdrop for a video posted on social media this year showing a woman singing a patriotic Khmer song that led to Bangkok lodging a formal protest with Phnom Penh. Cambodia and Thailand have long been at odds over their more than 800-kilometre-long border, which was largely drawn during the French occupation of Indochina. The 2008 military clashes erupted over a patch of land next to Preah Vihear Temple, a 900-year-old structure near their shared border. This led to several years of sporadic violence before the International Court of Justice ruled the disputed area belonged to Cambodia. (AFP)
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodia will retain military presence at scene of armed clash
Cambodian and Thai military officers shake hands ahead of urgent discussions aimed at cooling tensions on the shared border. - FB via PPP/ANN PHNOM PENH: Cambodia will not retreat nor remain unarmed at the site of the May 28 exchange of fire in Preah Vihear province's Choam Ksan district, which left one Cambodian soldier dead. The Kingdom's position was made clear, in a Royal Cambodian Armed forces (RCAF) statement, released soon after the conclusion of talks between Lieutenant General Mao Sophan, Commander of the Cambodian Army, and Thailand's Lieutenant General Pana Klaewblaudtuk. 'The Cambodian side will neither retreat nor remain unarmed at the site of the clash, as Cambodian forces have been stationed there prior to the signing of the 2000 memorandum of understanding on the survey and demarcation of the Cambodia-Thailand land border,' said an RCAF press release. It explained that both parties agreed to continue resolving the situation through existing mechanisms, such as the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) and the 2000 MoU, to ensure the border area became one of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. 'Both parties will maintain the status quo, exercise restraint, and address issues through the JBC, with a meeting scheduled within the next two to three weeks to preserve good relations between the two countries,' it added. The Cambodian side urged mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasising the need to avoid further hostilities, like those that took place on the morning of May 28. 'Both parties agreed to the above points, and the negotiations concluded at 4.15pm on the same day,' said the release. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thailand to issue statement to resolve clash point in Chong Bok area
BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is preparing to issue a statement on Friday (May 30) to resolve the recent clash point in the Chong Bok area, Ubon Ratchathani province. RTA chief General Pana Klaewplodthuk said the official statement in both Thai and English follows discussions with General Mao Sophan, Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, regarding the recent skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops in Chong Bok. He outlined progress on three agreements reached on Thursday (May 29) as follows: Regarding the dispute in the Chong Bok area, the Thai and Cambodian armies have agreed to utilise the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), a government-level mechanism, to expedite resolving the issue. The JBC meeting is expected to reach a conclusion within the next two weeks. Both forces involved in the recent clashes have withdrawn from the area, easing tensions. Both sides also agreed to use the Regional Border Committee (RBC) mechanism to clarify any lingering concerns and to strengthen the JBC process. Pana emphasised that operations must ensure Cambodian troops do not enter Hill 745 in the Chong Bok area. This location had previously seen Cambodian forces digging trenches and establishing a base before Thai troops negotiated their withdrawal. Today, Thai and Cambodian soldiers are conducting joint patrols in the area, he said. Regarding the second clash point, where Cambodian forces had dug trenches from the blackboard tree to the Lao Junction, a distance of 650 metres, discussions may be held to arrange unarmed joint patrols with Cambodian troops if possible. - The Nation/ANN
