The head of the Australia-based Khmer Organisation for Democracy, Soeng Senkaruna, has called on the international community to impose clear penalties to deter violations of the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire.
Soeng Senkaruna said on Tuesday that the truce agreed by the two countries contains no binding provisions for punishing violations, allowing Thailand to continue breaching it. He accused Thai forces of repeated incursions into Cambodian territory, including setting up encampments and digging trenches.
He urged stakeholders such as the United States, ASEAN, Malaysia and China to review the ceasefire agreement and add provisions specifying sanctions for any party that violates it. Without such measures, he said, the truce cannot guarantee an effective and just resolution to the conflict.
The civil society leader also appealed for unity among all Cambodians, regardless of political affiliation, saying that internal divisions at a time of foreign territorial aggression would only weaken the nation.
Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata told reporters on Tuesday that Cambodia remains firmly committed to respecting and fully implementing the ceasefire agreement and the understandings reached at the August 7 extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee.
She said Cambodia will work closely with Thailand, Malaysia, ASEAN members and all relevant partners to ensure the ceasefire is fully effective and that all disputes are resolved peacefully following international law, the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter.
Maly Socheata added that within two weeks, the Regional Border Committee will meet with its Thai counterparts, in line with the spirit and agreements reached on August 7.
Following what Cambodia says were Thai violations of the truce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a formal letter on August 11 to the president of the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, warning of escalating risks and threats to the ceasefire.
The letter referred to a statement by Thailand’s Second Army Region Commander, Boonsin Padklang, on August 10, in which he threatened to seize Ta Krabey Temple and close Ta Moan Thom Temple.
Commenting on the issue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Chum Sounry said on August 12 that Cambodia demands the Thai military respect both the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter.
She said Thailand must end all incursions and occupation of Cambodian territory, and withdraw all personnel and equipment, to ensure full and unconditional compliance with the July 28 ceasefire and the August 7 agreements.
