Cambodia says Thai troops are continuing what it calls acts of aggression along the disputed border, despite a second ceasefire agreement that came into effect on December 27, 2025.
In a statement released on February 16, 2026, Pen Bona, head of the Royal Government spokesperson unit, said Thai forces had continued to damage civilian infrastructure and government buildings inside Cambodian territory. He accused them of digging trenches, laying barbed wire, and placing shipping containers on Cambodian soil.
According to the statement, Thai troops have also prevented Cambodian villagers from returning to their homes.
Pen Bona said that although both sides had agreed to a ceasefire late last year, Thailand had failed to respect the agreement. He described the use of military force to occupy the territory of a sovereign state as a clear violation of the ASEAN Charter, the United Nations Charter, and international law.
He further alleged that the destruction of homes, looting of civilian property, and blocking of displaced residents from returning amounted to serious breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and several international conventions. These include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, as well as the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Hague Convention of 1907.
The statement said the situation was causing severe hardship for displaced Cambodians, particularly women, children, older people, the sick, and people with disabilities. It cited rising poverty, disruption to education, and physical and psychological health problems among the consequences.
Thailand has rejected accusations of wrongdoing. On February 16, 2026, the Bangkok Post quoted acting prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul as saying he remained committed to defending Thailand’s territory, sovereignty, honour, and dignity, while prioritising the safety of Thai citizens.
International media have also been following the developments. On February 13, 2026, AFP, Reuters, and the Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asia reported on the Cambodia-Thailand conflict, including damage to Preah Vihear temple and the deployment of barbed wire and shipping containers by Thai forces in villages in Banteay Meanchey province.
In its coverage, Reuters said displaced Cambodians were facing an uncertain future, as a surge in nationalist sentiment in Thailand increased pressure on both sides of the border.
