AKP Phnom Penh, September 16, 2026 —

The Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) on Wednesday facilitated a field visit for Brigadier General Antero S. Narcise PN (M), Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH) to observe the situation on the ground along the Cambodia-Thailand border at the Boeung Trakoun Border Checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province.

According to a press release issued by the Spokeswoman of the Ministry of National Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the field visit took place at 2:37 p.m. at the border checkpoint in Kouk Romiet commune, Thmar Puok district.

During the visit, Banteay Meanchey Provincial Governor H.E. Oum Reatrey briefed the visiting delegation on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border. The briefing covered the reported deployment of shipping containers, installation of barbed wire, digging of trenches and construction of bunkers by the Thai military, as well as reported destruction of civilian infrastructure, homes and property belonging to Cambodian civilians.

The Governor also reported the illegal occupation of Cambodian territory in the Boeung Trakoun Border Checkpoint area, saying that these activities had prevented numerous Cambodian families from returning to their homes.

The Ministry of National Defence said the on-site observation, inspection and verification by Brigadier General Antero S. Narcise and the AOT further underscored the need to commence border survey and demarcation work by the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as soon as possible, in accordance with existing agreements.

It referred in particular to Point 4 of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC), dated Dec. 27, 2025, saying that the resumption of the survey and demarcation work would help enable Cambodian civilians to return to their homes safely, with dignity and without obstruction.

The Cambodian side reaffirmed its firm position on safeguarding the international boundary between Cambodia and Thailand, based on the principles of international law and the principle of the inviolability of frontiers (uti possidetis juris), as well as the Franco-Siamese Conventions and Treaties, relevant boundary delimitation protocols and maps, and the official records of the boundary delimitation and demarcation commissions.

The statement also cited the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 2000, the Terms of Reference (TOR) of 2003, and other relevant agreements and documents previously agreed upon by the two sides as the basis for resolving border disputes peacefully and achieving lasting peace between the two countries.

The Royal Government and the Ministry of National Defence of Cambodia further reaffirmed their firm, sincere and good-faith commitment to fully and consistently respecting and implementing the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand GBC dated Dec. 27, 2025, the Joint Declaration on the Peace Agreement between Cambodia and Thailand dated Oct. 26, 2025, and other relevant agreements, with the aim of swiftly improving the situation and restoring normalcy.

By C. Nika