Cambodia breaches border pact with road, stairs and cable cars at Phu Makua

Thailand considers Cambodia’s construction of makeshift cable cars, stairs and roads on Phu Makua Hill in Si Sa Ket province to be a violation of a bilateral agreement, as it alters the topography and environment of a disputed area, said Thai army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree.

Even though the construction does not cross the operational line between the two countries, it does violate the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2000, said Winthai, who added that Thailand has been gathering evidence and filing protests through local military mechanisms.

Cambodia’s construction of the cable cars came to light after visitors recorded videos of Cambodian soldiers using them to travel up and down the hill.

According to the spokesman, Cambodians access the upper parts of the hill using cable cars and stairs, due to the steep terrain on their side.

More recently, Cambodia constructed a road on the mountainside, within its own territory, to improve access to the summit.

He also dismissed as false widespread online reports claiming that Cambodia had seized Phu Makua Hill.

Winthai noted that the hill, located west of the Preah Vihear Temple, lies within a 4.6km2 disputed area. The dispute originated when Cambodia asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to interpret its 1962 verdict concerning the area around the temple.

Both Thailand and Cambodia claim sovereignty over the hill.

During the height of the dispute, both nations deployed troops to the area, resulting in military outposts from each side facing each other.

Despite Thailand's firm commitment to non-aggression and peaceful conflict resolution, Cambodia’s continued violations of existing agreements remain a serious concern.

The Thai military has, however, underscored the importance of being prepared to protect national sovereignty and ensure the safety of its citizens, the spokesman emphasised.