Sihasak dismisses territory claims, urges Hun Manet not to internationalise dispute

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has rejected claims by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet that Thailand has invaded Cambodian territory by placing barbed wire and shipping containers in areas considered part of Cambodia.

The areas in question are within Thai territory, Sihasak claimed during an interview with the France 24 media outlet in Paris, adding that they had been encroached upon by Cambodians for quite some time.

Denying the invasion claim, Sihasak emphasised that, as part of the ceasefire signed in December last year, troops would remain where they are and then work towards an eventual agreement on the boundary.

“PM Hun Manet forgot to mention that, before the conflict, there was clear encroachment by the Cambodian side into Thai territory. This dates back to the days of the Cambodia conflict, when Thailand opened its borders to 400,000 refugees from Cambodia. After the conflict ended and peace was restored, many of the villages did not return to their home territory,” according to Sihasak.

Thailand has to do what it must to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including building a border wall.

The situation at the moment depends on very much on the attitude of the Cambodian side, as to whether it truly wants to pursue peace with Thailand or not, and that is its decision to make, he said.

“It is the Cambodian side that keeps internationalising the conflict. Even after the ceasefire, they continue to make false claims. I believe both sides should exercise self-restraint, avoid acts of provocation and move our relationship forward. What the Cambodian side is doing is taking the relationship backward rather than forward,” Sihasak said.

Hun Manet made the claims of encroachment in an interview with a news outlet during his trip to the United States.

Commenting on Cambodia’s recent claim that the Thai Navy arrested Cambodians in Cambodian waters, Sihasak said this was again a tactic which Cambodia has long used to put pressure on Thailand and to portray it as the more aggressive country.

Sihasak said the ceasefire remains fragile, urging Cambodia to avoid acts of provocation, misinformation and disinformation. The foreign minister emphasised the need for both sides to prioritise peace and to avoid any actions that could undermine the fragile ceasefire agreement.

“Our priority right now is to build trust and calm tensions,” said Sihasak, adding “This is a crucial moment to move forward in a way that benefits both countries.”