AKP Phnom Penh, October 15, 2026 —

A Cambodian diplomat on Wednesday rejected statement made by Thailand's representative at a United Nations meeting in Geneva, stating that Cambodia did not initiate the recent border conflict nor escalate hostilities.

H.E. Ke Sovann, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, made the remarks in response to statements by Thai Permanent Representative Benjamin Sukanjanajtee during the general debate of the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Oct. 14.

Ambassador H.E. Ke Sovann stated that Cambodia strongly rejects the Thai delegation's claims as false, baseless, and intended to misrepresent the situation on the ground and mislead UN member states.

He clarified that Cambodia did not start the dispute or escalate hostilities. On May 28, 2025, Thai troops opened fire on a Cambodian military position, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier, after which tensions escalated.

Regarding displaced persons, the Cambodian envoy noted that Cambodian citizens were forced to flee their homes within Cambodian territory due to the 2025 border conflict, specifically caused by attacks from Thai armed forces. According to UNHCR records, the final repatriation of Cambodian refugees from camps in Thailand was completed in March 1999, and all camps were closed.

The Ambassador recalled that the international boundary between the two nations is recognised under the 1904 Convention and the 1907 Treaty between France and Siam, with maps drawn at a scale of 1:200,000, emphasising that both countries are obligated to respect internationally recognised borders.

Addressing landmine allegations, he asserted: "Cambodia has never deployed new anti-personnel landmines. Recent explosion incidents involving Thai soldiers occurred in old, well-documented minefields inside Cambodian territory, which are remnants of past civil war. Cambodia remains fully committed to its obligations under the Ottawa Convention."

He added that the joint statement signed on Dec. 27, 2025, does not grant legitimacy to any illegal occupation of Cambodian territory by Thai forces, nor does it permit the destruction of civilian homes, infrastructure, or cultural property in Cambodian territory.

Cambodia firmly calls on Thailand to immediately cease all unlawful activities in occupied Cambodian territory—particularly actions aimed at altering the status quo or creating a fait accompli—and to permit and facilitate the safe and dignified return of displaced Cambodian citizens to their homes as soon as possible, the Ambassador stated.

By K. Rithy Reak