AKP Phnom Penh, February 10, 2026 --

Japan’s top diplomat in Cambodia has pledged to brief Tokyo on the escalating border conflict with Thailand, following reports of severe human rights violations and the continued displacement of nearly 100,000 civilians.

The commitment was made by Ambassador Ueno Atsushi during a high-level meeting with H.E. Keo Remy, Senior Minister and President of the Cambodia Human Rights Committee (CHRC), at the committee's headquarters on Monday.

During the bilateral talks, Senior Minister Keo Remy raised urgent concerns regarding the plight of approximately 90,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Despite a ceasefire agreement signed on Dec. 27, 2025, the Minister asserted that civilians remain unable to return to their homes due to the continued presence of Thai military forces on Cambodian territory.

The Cambodian side alleged that Thai forces have deployed barbed wire and shipping containers to obstruct civilian movement, a move Phnom Penh claims is a direct violation of Article 4 of the ceasefire agreement. The provision mandates that both parties allow civilians to return to their homes safely and with dignity.

"These actions are severely impacting the fundamental freedoms of our most vulnerable populations – women, children, the elderly, and the disabled," H.E. Keo Remy stated. "They are being denied their rights to education, healthcare, and adequate housing."

The Senior Minister provided a detailed briefing on the scale of the military engagement, accusing Thai forces of utilising advanced weaponry, including: F-16, Gripen, and T-50 fighter jets; Cluster munitions and toxic gas; Indiscriminate shelling of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and religious sites.

Of particular concern was the reported damage to the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cambodia has accused Thai forces of attempting to "create a new identity" on Cambodian sovereign land through the destruction of religious statues and the unauthorised construction of new structures.

Despite what he described as a "declining global order," H.E. Keo Remy expressed confidence in international law and Japan’s influential role in the region. He urged Tokyo to leverage its diplomatic weight to ensure Thailand adheres to established legal frameworks and international mechanisms to resolve the dispute.

In response, Ambassador Ueno confirmed he would relay the gravity of the border situation to the Japanese government. He further noted that Japan has already begun providing humanitarian aid to the displaced civilians to alleviate the burden on the Royal Government of Cambodia.

By K. Rithy Reak