The Cambodian prime minister stated in an interview that the armed forces of Thailand have advanced with the seizure of new territories
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The prime minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, stated that forces from Thailand continue to occupy Cambodian territory despite the ceasefire reached in December, and called for the immediate activation of the joint border demarcation commission to solve the dispute.
In an interview, the first that he has granted to an international outlet since he took power in 2023, Hun Manet described the situation on the border as "fragile", despite the cessation of hostilities achieved after months of clashes.
According to the head of state, Thai troops remain "deeply inside Cambodian territory" in several areas, even beyond the line that Bangkok had reportedly recognized previously. He also asserted that containers and barbed wire have been installed in areas where residents still can't return.
El mandatario camboyano afirmó que la situación en la frontera es ''frágil''
Thai authorities rejected the accusations. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense maintained that the country is merely maintaining the deployments agreed upon in the joint declaration and denied any reinforcement or new occupation. He indicated that the bilateral commission will be able to meet once the new government is formed after the elections held this month.
The conflict, which affects an 817-kilometer (507.7-mile) border, saw in July the worst fighting in more than a decade, with hundreds of thousands of displaced people and a strong impact on bilateral trade.
A peace agreement signed in October with mediation by U.S. President Donald Trump and the prime minister of Malaysia collapsed weeks later, before a new ceasefire was reached on December 27.
El presidente estadounidense ayudó a alcanzar un acuerdo de alto al fuego
Hun Manet is in Washington this week to participate in a meeting of the "Board of Peace", a body initially created to oversee a plan related to Gaza, but which, according to Trump, could take on a broader role in conflict resolution. The Cambodian leader expressed his hope that this forum will help de-escalate tensions with Thailand.
On the diplomatic front, the prime minister highlighted a rapprochement with the United States after years of close cooperation with China. He stated that relations with both powers "are not mutually exclusive" and defended his country's foreign policy as sovereign and independent. He also insisted that Cambodia has "nothing to hide" regarding the Ream naval base, modernized with Chinese support.
Hun Manet, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, took power after the withdrawal of his father, Hun Sen, following elections in which the ruling Cambodian People's Party competed with virtually no opposition.
El gobierno de Tailandia negó cualquier nueva incursión en Camboya
The head of state also referred to international criticism regarding human rights and freedom of the press, and argued that democracy must be evaluated in multiple dimensions, not only in party competition.
He also stated that his government is stepping up actions against online scam centers that operate in the country and is preparing new legislation to combat digital fraud.
As negotiations and calls to reactivate the technical demarcation mechanisms continue, the border dispute continues to represent a source of instability in Southeast Asia, despite diplomatic efforts to consolidate the truce.
Camboya y China han tenido una estrecha cooperación hasta que se produjo un acercamiento a Estados Unidos
