PHNOM PENH: “Cambodia is adhering to the path of peace and prioritising above all else the lives and wellbeing of the people,” Prime Minister Hun Manet (pic) said on Monday (Dec 29), with the recent ceasefire in no way suggesting the Kingdom is not committed fully to defending itself.
Allaying concerns Cambodia could lose land to Thailand, the Prime Minister said the decision to implement the Dec 27 ceasefire does not mean the kingdom is willing to trade its territorial integrity for peace, nor imply it has either abandoned the right to self-defence or lacks the capability to do so.
After 21 days of fighting, Cambodia and Thailand on Dec 27 issued a joint statement that an "immediate ceasefire was in place", with troops from each country having to remain where they were before the cessation of hostilities was called.
It is this point that some critics claim has caused Cambodia to lose territory to Thailand.
However, the Prime Minister said that while Cambodia could continue to withstand the fighting, as a small country, it gained absolutely no benefit from prolonging the conflict.
“While the possibility of finding a peaceful solution to the border dispute remains, the government has decided to pursue negotiations to end the fighting before it expands further, in order to minimise the pain and suffering of compatriots,” Manet said.
He stated that ending the fighting is also “to stop the sacrifices and injuries among the heroic army and heroic police, as well as innocent citizens”, adding: “war cannot be ended by war”.
To date, 32 civilians have lost their lives, with 93 injured.
The Prime Minister said: “The immediate ceasefire in place means both parties maintain forces at their respective positions at the time the ceasefire commenced.
“However, this positioning is not related to the determination of border demarcation between the two countries, as stipulated in the Joint Statement of the Special Meeting of the General Border Committee [GBC] between the kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand dated December 27, 2025.”
“This clarifies that the international border line between Cambodia and Thailand is still determined by existing treaties and conventions, and Cambodia retains its full right to resolve this border issue with the Thai side in accordance with international law, treaties, conventions, and all bilateral mechanisms currently in force,” he added.
He also highlighted the content stipulated in Point 3 of the Joint Statement, which reads: "Both parties have agreed to task the Joint Border Commission (JBC) with resuming, as soon as possible, the work of surveying and demarcating the border in accordance with existing agreements between the two countries, especially in the affected border areas where civilians used to reside, to ensure long-lasting peace along the border of both countries."
The Prime Minister said: “The hardships and the sacrifices of fresh flesh and blood by our heroes on the battlefield are a reminder not to let us forget for a single second that 'division is death, strong unity is life.'” - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
