Prime Minister Hun Manet said Monday that Cambodia and Thailand are set to sign a Peace Agreement at the ASEAN Summit from October 26-28 in the presence of the US to end the border conflict and restore bilateral relations.
“There will be a peace agreement in Malaysia,” he said at the inauguration of the Techo International Airport. “I ask all brothers and sisters to trust us in this ongoing mission to end the problem, resolve the conflict, and protect our people, our territory, and our armed forces.”
“We are committed to addressing sovereignty issues not through the use of force, but legal means, bilateral mechanisms, and existing agreements and treaties,” he added.
Three methods are being employed to address the issue; to prevent the situation from spreading, reduce its impact and find ways to restore the situation, and end the conflict, Hun Manet pointed out.
On Sunday, Cambodia Army Regions 4 and 5 informed Thailand’s 1st and 2nd Army Areas about the upcoming Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC) meetings but it was postponed pending the outcome of the second Special General Border Committee (GBC) three-day meeting which began today in Kuala Lumpur.
Both sides agreed to resume preparations for the RBC meeting after obtaining the results from the GBC meeting to strengthen cooperation, uphold ceasefire, and promote peace and stability along the border.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn confirmed that Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to a peace agreement — to be signed by both prime ministers during the ASEAN Summit, with U.S President Donald Trump in attendance.
Hun Manet posted on Sunday to address concerns that Cambodia would not be ceding territory to Thailand with the signing of the upcoming peace agreement deal. He wrote on Facebook that the ceasefire agreement highlights the terms, procedures to prevent recurrence of hostilities, and ensures an amicable environment to end conflict and restore relations between both countries.
“Although the two agreements do not mention issues relating to territory or borders, it doesn’t mean that either party agreed to give up legitimate rights to control territories within its sovereignty,” he said.
Hun Manet pointed out that Cambodia has not agreed to any deal, including the ceasefire agreement and the peace agreement, that would result in the loss of the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting will take place peacefully under existing treaties.
Last week, Khaosod reported that vehicles fitted with large sound systems gathered at Sa Kaeo province’s Ban Nong Chan village to broadcast documentaries and other issues on encroachment of Thai sovereign territory from October 17 to 19.
Regarding this, the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to look into the matter of “disturbing sounds” being used as a form of psychological persecution, intimidation and harassment of Cambodian people.
“These sound systems reportedly generated extreme noise levels exceeding safe human exposure limits,” read the statement.
Prey Chan village resident Hul Malis said Thai soldiers cleared the land in her village near the border, adding that they were subjected to broadcasts between 10 p.m. and midnight and 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. from October 10 to 14.
“We couldn’t sleep because the noise was very disturbing, and it affected everyone, including the elderly and children. Some even fell sick,” Malis said. “They have made it difficult for us to rest. They want to drive us off our land.”
Banteay Meanchey deputy governor Ly Vannarith confirmed on Monday that the broadcast of disturbing voices has not stopped.
Tensions remain high along the border, particularly in the disputed Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages in Banteay Meanchey on Cambodia’s side after Thai authorities ordered the eviction of Cambodian villagers from areas they claim belong to them. They had Thai names—Nong Chan, Nong Ya Kaeo, and Ta Phak Ya, which are all part of Sa Kaeo province, they said.
Brief exchanges also broke out late last month near the Preah Vihear border, while all shared land crossings remain closed for trade.
