(Phnom Penh, 4th) — The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Saturday (January 3), demanding that Thailand withdraw all its military personnel and equipment back within the legally demarcated border line, and immediately cease "all hostile military activities" in the border area and inside Cambodia. Cambodia's Information Minister, Khieu Kanharith, also accused the Thai military on Friday (2nd) of illegally annexing Chouk Chey village on the Thai-Cambodian border.
This village originally had 3,000 Cambodian residents, but they were forced to evacuate during the military clashes between the two countries in December last year. Now, only residential houses and vehicles damaged by shellfire remain.
The Cambodian side accused the Thai army of penetrating up to 750 meters inside the Cambodian side of the border, setting up border fences with barbed wire and container boxes, and raising the Thai national flag. The Thai army issued a statement denying these claims, and, without specifying a location, stated that the land in question originally belonged to Thailand but was occupied by the Cambodian military, allowing Cambodian civilians to settle there for years.
This village originally had 3,000 Cambodian residents, but they were forced to evacuate during the military clashes between the two countries in December last year. Now, only residential houses and vehicles damaged by shellfire remain.
The Cambodian side accused the Thai army of penetrating up to 750 meters inside the Cambodian side of the border, setting up border fences with barbed wire and container boxes, and raising the Thai national flag. The Thai army issued a statement denying these claims, and, without specifying a location, stated that the land in question originally belonged to Thailand but was occupied by the Cambodian military, allowing Cambodian civilians to settle there for years.