The National Defense Ministry condemned a Thai army commander for his “provocative” action and blatantly violating the ceasefire agreement reached last month, after announcing plans to seize temples located in the north of Cambodia.
In a press briefing on Monday, ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said Thai military region 2 commander Boosin Padklang declared his intention on Sunday to seize Ta Krabei Temple and close Ta Moan Thom Temple, despite having only 51 days left in his service.
Both temples are located in Oddar Meanchey province, which is within Cambodia’s sovereign territory, she stressed, noting that Boonsin’s act is “irrefutably provocative”, and a “deliberate”, “premeditated” attempt to invade Cambodian territory.
According to a Thai media report on Sunday, Boosin allegedly said Thai forces reclaimed Ta Krabei temples for Thailand and plans to close Ta Moan Thom temple.
Socheata appealed to the international community and partner countries to ensure Thailand respects the ceasefire pact through concrete actions, including stopping violations and removing barbed wires placed on Cambodian territory.
Cambodia also urged Thailand to immediately return 18 detained military soldiers.
The five days of fighting killed at least 43 people – many of them civilians – and displaced more than 300,000 in both countries.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed to extend the ceasefire following three days of talks at the General Border Committee (GBC) in Malaysia last week, however, recent acts by Thailand show that Thailand has “continued to violate the agreement”.
A delegation of Military Attaché Corps of Phnom Penh (MACPP), composed of resident and non-resident members, conducted an on-site inspection of areas in Oddar Meanchey directly affected by artillery and air strikes by Thai armed forces during the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict.
Cambodian army commander Neak Vong, who was stationed in Ta Moan Thom Temple area, told military attachés that the Thai military had violated the ceasefire, by placing sandbands and encroaching temple areas, which are under Cambodia’s control.
“We tried to prevent them but they didn’t listen. This is a clear violation of the ceasefire,” Vong was quoted as saying by local media to the military attachés, adding that the Thai side fired around 100 slightshots against Cambodia’s troops.
