Cambodia refuses to pull back from Chong Bok area

WHILE the defence ministers of Cambodia and Thailand reached an agreement to de-escalating tensions and avoiding any armed confrontation along the border the former has refused to withdraw from Chong Bok, Ubon Ratchathani province, where there was a clash on May 28, 2025 leading to the death of a Cambodian soldier, Naewna and Khmer Times said today (June 6.

This agreement was reached at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Defence Minister Gen. Tea Seiha yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said after the National Security Council held a meeting for nearly two hours that a special committee has been set up to closely monitor the situation while confirming that the government, the Foreign Ministry and military are working in harmony, TV Channel 7 said.

However, the solution to this crisis requires bilateral negotiations under the mechanisms of Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), General Border Committee (GBC) and Regional Border Committee (RBC) with a meeting set to take place on June 14, 2025.

Regarding closing border checkpoints, it has to be considered whether the situation at that time has escalated to the point of having to do so or not, she added.

On its Facebook page, the Cambodian Defence Ministry claimed that Chong Bok is within Cambodia’s sovereignty and troops have been permanently stationed there since the beginning, therefore cannot withdraw.

Thailand was accused of continuing using different maps and scales which deters reaching the middle ground on maintaining border stability.

While Cambodia remains committed to 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2000) it has decided to refer four disputed areas, Prasat Ta Muen Thom, Prasat Ta Muen Tot, Prasat Ta Khwai (called Prasat Ta Krabey in Cambodian language), and Mombei area (Chong Bok), to the International Court of Justice for a ruling.

At the same time Thai security agencies at Chong Bok said Cambodia has continuous move troops and heavy weapons to this area after a group of Cambodian soldiers and civilians sang their national anthem at Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple. which lies along the border at Phanom Dong Rak district, Surin province, last February and led to a heated verbal exchange.

After the temple incident Cambodia increased the number of troops in this area to approximately 10,000 and continuously brought in heavy weapons. After the Chong Bok clash the number of Cambodian troops increased by another 3,000 to 12,000 in the Chong Bok area, spread out around Hill 745, Hill 641 and Mombei area.

The barrels of heavy weapons brought to the border are turned towards Thailand.

CAPTION:

Some of the heavy weapons that have been moved to the Thai-Cambodian border. Photos: Naewna