Opinion: Cambodia Upholds Peace While Thailand’s Army Flexes for Confrontation
Opinion: Cambodia Upholds Peace While Thailand’s Army Flexes for Confrontation
Khmer Times | Cambodia has long stood firm on the principles of peace, mutual respect, and regional cooperation. Yet, once again, provocative rhetoric and militarized gestures from Thailand’s Royal Army—particularly its Second Army Region—threaten to destabilize the fragile calm along our shared border.
The recent statement by Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, who confirmed readiness to construct a fence around Ta Mone Thom Temple if ordered by Bangkok, is deeply alarming. Though he admits such action could escalate tensions, his insistence on using Thailand’s unilaterally adopted 1:50,000 map shows a clear disregard for Cambodia’s sovereignty and the need for mutual agreement.
Cambodia will never accept any act that infringes upon its territory, especially not under the pretext of “technical issues.” Building physical barriers in disputed zones without consensus is not preservation—it is provocation.
It is also contradictory for General Boonsin to call for calm while criticizing Cambodian soldiers for documenting Thai aggression. These videos simply reveal the reality on the ground—Cambodians defending their own land against harassment. Suppressing such truths may protect Thailand’s image but does nothing to build trust.
Boonsin’s claim of “good” bilateral relations rings hollow when paired with threats of fencing off sacred sites. Apologies made with one hand while the other prepares to militarize a contested area only deepen distrust. True dialogue must be based on respect and legal principles, not coercion through barbed wire and force.
The administration of Prime Minister Hun Manet has remained committed to peaceful resolution. Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen has also made it clear: while Cambodia chooses peace, it does not accept surrender. The Ta Mone Thom Temple is an inseparable part of Cambodia’s cultural and territorial heritage. Any attempt to fence it off will be met with firm resistance.
Tourism and historical complexity do not justify territorial encroachment. Thai officials must stop using security narratives to justify illegal actions. Fences divide—they do not preserve peace.
Samdech Hun Sen has warned that if Thailand proceeds with constructing a fence to assert control over Ta Mone Thom Temple, it must be prepared to face grave consequences. While he reaffirmed that Cambodia does not seek war, he stressed that the Kingdom is fully prepared to take peaceful yet decisive action to defend its sovereignty.
Recalling the 2013 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on Preah Vihear Temple, Samdech Hun Sen emphasized that bilateral talks or international legal channels remain the only legitimate options to resolve border disputes. He proposed that temples such as Ta Mone Thom, Ta Mone Tauch, and Ta Krabey could also be addressed through the ICJ or diplomatic mechanisms.
He further called on the international community to respect Cambodia’s position, as they respect international law itself. Cambodia’s commitment to peace reflects not weakness, but strength—a strength rooted in legal principles, historical truth, and unwavering national dignity.
It is time for Thailand’s civilian leadership to restrain military hardliners and return to the path of diplomacy. Fences, threats, and unilateral claims have no place in modern neighborly relations. Cambodia stands for peace—but peace with sovereignty, peace with justice, and peace with honor.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views expressed are his own.
