Prime Minister Hun Manet has made it clear that an upcoming peace agreement with Thailand will not involve the ceding of territory. - Photo: Supplied
PHNOM PENH: Following the announcement of a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, concerns have been raised that Cambodia may cede territory in exchange for peace.
After the agreement was reached with the mediation of the US and Malaysia, some commentators, notably including members of the opposition, voiced fears that Thailand cannot be trusted and that the government of Prime Minister Hun Manet may have surrendered land to Thailand.
Manet addressed these concerns in a statement, released Sunday (Oct 19) morning.
“I would like to briefly inform all compatriots that the ceasefire agreement of July 28 outlined the conditions and codes of conduct to prevent renewed fighting. The peace agreement (to be signed in the future) is about preparing conditions and codes of conduct for creating and ensuring a favourable environment to end the conflict and restore relations between the two countries,” he said.
“Even if these two agreements do not mention issues related to land or borders, it does not mean that either party must agree to abandon its legal right to control territory within its sovereignty,” he added.
According to the prime minister, the demarcation and border-marking of boundaries fall under the jurisdiction of the Joint Border Committees (JBC) of both countries and must be resolved peacefully in accordance with existing treaties, conventions and agreements between Cambodia and Thailand.
“Cambodia has not agreed to any agreement that would result in the loss of Cambodia's sovereignty or legal territorial integrity. The Royal Government of Cambodia has never forgotten or abandoned its obligations and legal rights to protect Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he reiterated. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
