Another satellite image map with a boundary line unilaterally drawn and released by the Thai army shows that, in addition to the disputed area, other parts of Cambodian territory in Chouk Chey Village, O Bei Chorn Commune, O Chrov District, between Boundary Pillars No. 44 and No. 47, are being partly occupied and used by Thai citizens.
Despite the village being partly occupied by Thai citizens—shown on the Thai military’s satellite image map as farmland encroached upon by Thais—Cambodian authorities continue to address the issue in a peaceful manner, reiterating their adherence to resolving the matter through Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meetings.
However, the Thai army and the Sa Kaeo Provincial Administration have used a unilateral satellite image map as an official reference to enforce a boundary demarcation, causing tensions and confrontations, forcing some villagers to flee their homes and raising the threat of mass eviction. This action contradicts the spirit of the MOU 2000 on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary and particularly violates the mandate of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for the Land Boundary (JBC) of both countries. Such incidents are occurring in both Prey Chan and Chouk Chey areas.
In its clarification on the case of Chouk Chey village, the Ministry of National Defence of Cambodia, through Major General Chheng Khun, Deputy Director of the Department of Geography, explained today that the maps presented and disseminated by the Thai military’s deputy spokesperson and Thai media feature a unilaterally drawn boundary line, which is technically inaccurate and causes misunderstanding.
"The red and blue lines shown on the Thai satellite image map are not the official boundary lines mutually agreed upon. They are simply connecting lines drawn unilaterally by the Thai side, outside of the official process, and used to mislead the public and demand that Cambodia recognise them as a jointly agreed boundary line," he said.
Maj Gen Khun clarified that the Field Plan Showing the Terrain and Location of Boundary Pillars, presented and circulated by the Thai Deputy Military Spokesperson, the Sa Kaeo Provincial Administration, and Thai media outlets—bearing the signatures of Lay Siengly (former Chief of the Cambodian Survey Team) and Colonel Chakorn Boonphakdee (former Chief of the Thai Survey Team)—is merely a field plan indicating the locations of the boundary pillars.
"Based on the investigation of the local working groups on the terrain, from Boundary Pillars 44–47, it reveals that there are also actual occupation and use of Cambodian territory by Thai citizens as well as a Thailand’s road which was constructed in Cambodian territory, " he added.
Maj Gen Khun reaffirmed that Cambodia and Thailand already have sufficient and clear grounds—legal, institutional, and technical—for resolving boundary issues. In particular, he cited the 1:200,000 scale map under the 1904 Convention and 1907 Treaty, along with 74 jointly planted boundary pillars, all mutually recognised and reaffirmed in the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2000).
In addressing this issue, Cambodia firmly upholds its sovereignty based on the 1:200,000 scale map and has no intention of claiming Thai territory, while requesting the Thai side to respect Cambodia’s sovereignty.
