AKP Phnom Penh, August 27, 2026 -- The ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH) on Thursday conducted a field visit to the O’Smach area in Oddar Meanchey province to observe, verify and report on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, according to a press release from the Spokeswoman of the Ministry of National Defence.

At 10:00 a.m. on Aug. 27, the Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) coordinated the field visit, led by the Head of Mission of the AOT-KH from the Philippines.

The team inspected the illegal deployment of shipping containers, installation of barbed wire, construction of trenches, embankments and roads, as well as the occupation of Cambodian territory by Thai military forces at the O’Smach International Point of Entry and the O’Kla Khmom area of O’Kla Khmom village, O’Smach district, Samrong city.

According to the press release, the situation has prevented 366 Cambodian civilians, representing 98 families, including 190 women and 101 children, from returning to their homes.

The Ministry said the AOT-KH’s observation and verification at the locations underscored the urgent need for the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resume border demarcation work as soon as possible.

The move is in line with Point 4 of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on Dec. 27, 2025, which aims to enable citizens to safely, peacefully and with dignity return to their homes without obstruction, it added.

Cambodia reiterated its firm position on protecting the Cambodia-Thailand international border as inherited from the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, in accordance with international law and the principle of the inviolability of frontiers (Uti Possidetis Juris).

The Ministry also reaffirmed Cambodia’s reliance on the Franco-Siamese Conventions and Treaties, the Protocol concerning the delimitation of the boundary, maps resulting from the work of the Commissions of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, relevant procès-verbaux and procès-verbaux of abornement, as well as the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the 2003 Terms of Reference (TOR), and other agreements and documents previously agreed upon by both sides.

Cambodia said it does not recognise any alteration of the border resulting from the use of force or illegal territorial occupation through the creation of a fait accompli on the ground.

The Ministry added that Cambodia would continue to formally protest against any unilateral or abusive actions by Thailand that it considers to violate Cambodia’s legitimate territorial integrity.

By C. Nika