Synopsis: International relations experts reject Bangkok’s push to exclude territorial disputes from discussion at the gathering, asserting Cambodia’s right to bring its case to the global stage.
Cambodian scholars have criticised Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow for urging Cambodia not to raise the border dispute at the Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, arguing that Thailand has no right to dictate what Cambodia can discuss on an international platform while tensions over the border remain unresolved.
Their comments came after Sihasak said on Tuesday that Thailand would participate as an observer at the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled to take place on Saturday to Monday, but warned that the gathering should not become a platform for discussing bilateral tensions.
Speaking at Government House, Sihasak said the summit was intended to address matters concerning the Francophonie community and that the Thai-Cambodian dispute fell outside its scope. He urged Cambodia to refrain from bringing the border issue into the discussions.
Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, rejected the suggestion, saying Thailand could not expect Cambodia to remain silent about issues affecting its sovereignty while Thai troops continued to encroach on Cambodian territory.
“The Thai foreign minister has repeatedly stated that Cambodians should not raise the issue of Thai aggression in international meetings or forums, yet their military continues to encroach upon our sovereign territory,” he said.
Phea said Thailand could easily resolve the matter by withdrawing its troops from Cambodian land rather than pressuring Phnom Penh to avoid discussing the dispute internationally.
“The solution is straightforward: if Thailand does not want Cambodia to bring up the matter, it simply needs to withdraw its troops from Cambodian land,” he said.
He described Thailand’s demand as unacceptable, stressing that Cambodia, as the party claiming to have suffered aggression, had the right to present its position and inform the international community about developments along the border.
“Thailand has no right to order Cambodia – the victim of its aggression – to stay silent, and it is vital for us to present the truth to the international community,” Phea said.
He added that Cambodia was not seeking unconditional support from other countries but wanted the international community to understand the situation and uphold international law.
“We do not seek blind support from anyone – we merely want the world to recognise who the victim is and who the aggressor is and to uphold international law, peace, justice, and fairness for Cambodia,” he said.
Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, also criticised Bangkok’s position, arguing that its efforts to prevent the border dispute from becoming an international issue reflected a lack of confidence in its arguments.
“The Thai government’s eagerness to prevent its dispute with Cambodia over the border from becoming an international matter continues to betray the government’s underlying weakness of spirit and feebleness in logic for what has been a long struggle to overcome its identity crisis,” he said.
Youk said Thailand could be concerned that bringing the dispute before the Francophone community could expose it to international criticism.
He said Thailand’s preferred approach relied on keeping the international community distant from developments on the ground, allowing its territorial claims to be considered without sufficient scrutiny of the historical record.
“Thailand’s preferred conceptualisation of the border dispute depends upon an international community that is removed from the facts on the ground and a willingness to accept Thailand’s claims purely based upon a presumption that Thailand has no motives to mislead, distort or lie,” he said.
Youk cited historical episodes of territorial disputes between the two countries, recalling that Thailand occupied large areas of Cambodian territory during the 19th century before French and Cambodian authorities pushed it out.
He referred to Thailand’s seizure of territories during World War II and subsequent military actions along the border, arguing that historical developments demonstrated Bangkok’s longstanding difficulties in dealing with Cambodia’s territorial claims.
He pointed to the dispute over Preah Vihear Temple, saying Thailand had previously disregarded international legal decisions concerning the area.
“Again, Thailand struggles with the historical record of its actions along the border with Cambodia, and this struggle manifests in its intense desire to prevent the international community from becoming involved,” Youk said.
Thailand is expected to send observers to the summit, which Cambodia is hosting under the framework of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.
The three-day gathering is expected to bring together leaders and representatives from Francophone countries, with French President Emmanuel Macron among those scheduled to attend.
Macron is combining the event with a state visit.
The Francophonie brings together countries and governments with historical, linguistic or cultural ties to the French language. Thailand has held observer status since 2008, despite French not being one of its principal foreign languages.
The summit will provide Cambodia with an opportunity to host high-level international discussions and strengthen engagement with the community, as the country prepares to welcome leaders and delegates.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn said among the 90 member states, 79 countries have confirmed participation, alongside over 1,000 delegates.
“We will have 20 heads of state and heads of government, deputy prime ministers, and ministers attending, plus 26 under-secretaries of state serving as heads of delegation,” he said.
“We have already registered 1,200 journalists, nearly 400 of whom are foreign, excluding support staff.”
