PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet has reiterated that Cambodia’s border is based on the border markers established in 1907, not those determined by Thailand, and clarified that Cambodia did not permanently lose territory through the Dec 27 ceasefire agreement.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Luong Mer Hospital on the morning of Aug 16, Manet cited Border Posts 58 and 59 as examples, saying they had been moved about 1km into Cambodian territory but that the two sides’ boundary demarcation working groups had agreed to return them to their original locations.
“We did not sign away any land to anyone. The Kuala Lumpur Accord, and even the Dec 27 ceasefire agreement, did not state that any territory was ceded to anyone,” he said.
“Look carefully. Point 2 says that wherever the fighting was taking place, that is where the forces must stop for the time being. They are prohibited from moving forward or backward because that could lead to endless fighting.
“Later, when Thailand put up barbed wire, we protested that they were violating the ceasefire. Point 3 of the agreement clearly states this. Without this point, we would not have signed the agreement on Dec 27.
“Point 3 clearly states that the border line is not determined by this agreement. The border line is determined by the JBC [Joint Boundary Commission], which must conduct surveys and demarcation in accordance with existing agreements,” he added.
Manet’s remarks were directed at opposition critics abroad, who have accused the government of allowing Cambodia to lose territory to Thailand.
“Cambodia should not sign any agreement with Thailand similar to the one reached on December 27, which resulted in the unacceptable ceding of Cambodian territory to Thailand,” claimed Sam Rainsy, as quoted by a Thai media outlet.
Manet offered a clear rebuttal to the disgraced former opposition leader.
He stressed that the Dec 27 agreement was intended to halt the fighting and prevent further loss of life among both soldiers and civilians.
He acknowledged that Thailand currently occupies Cambodian territory in several locations, but called on Cambodians to trust the government to resolve the border issue peacefully and without the use of force.
"We must resolve this [peacefully] rather than continue fighting to determine who wins or loses, because there is no winner or loser. It is simply fighting back and forth,” he said, adding "As I have said, whether in the Middle East or Europe, fighting back and forth does not end. In the end, people are lost, and eventually the two sides negotiate with each other anyway."
"Therefore, we must pursue every possible avenue for negotiations," he reiterated. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
