Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a formal protest with the Thai government over what it describes as repeated incursions by Thai troops into Cambodian border areas. The ministry says Thai soldiers have been laying barbed wire, setting up barricades, and placing vehicle tires in zones where Cambodian villagers live.

At a press briefing on August 27, ministry spokesman Chum Sounry confirmed that the protest letter had been sent two days earlier. He said Cambodia expressed deep concern and condemned the actions of Thai troops in Choek Chai village of Banteay Meanchey province, where they allegedly entered Cambodian territory and laid barriers in recent days. According to the statement, these activities undermine the ceasefire agreement reached previously between the two sides.

Since the initial ceasefire deal in Putrajaya, Malaysia, and a renewed understanding at the extraordinary General Border Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month, Cambodian and ASEAN military observers have been regularly monitoring the frontier.

On Wednesday, August 20, the Interim Observer Team carried out its third inspection since the August 7 meeting. Observers visited areas in Preah Vihear province that have previously seen clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops.

The inspections have also taken place on the Thai side. On August 19, ASEAN observers from eight countries, in a visit organized by Thailand, inspected a disputed area known in Thai as Chong Arn Ma in Ubon Ratchathani province. Cambodia calls the area Chrak Arn Seh and maintains it lies within Preah Vihear province.

On August 20, Thai authorities again brought international observers to another disputed area in Surin province, near Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.

Observers told reporters that their visits were not designed to assign blame or determine which side was at fault. Instead, they said the inspections were intended to verify the situation on the ground and provide reports at a later stage.