(Phnom Penh): The State Secretariat of Border Affairs informed that in the past, the JBC (Cambodian side) has sent many notes verbales to the JBC (Thai side) to propose the convening of special meeting of the JBC, and the dispatch of the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to resume their works on the ground, according to a press release seen by Fresh News on Tuesday (Jun. 16).
However, the Thai side has responded by requesting postponements for the following reasons: to complete internal procedures, to await the General Election, to await the appointment of the new prime minister, to await the formation of the new Cabinet, and to await the approval by the Thai Cabinet on the appointment of the new chairperson and composition of the JBC (Thai side).
To date, although the new Thai prime minister was appointed and the new Thai Cabinet was formed and has held several meetings, the Thai Government has still not officially appointed the new chairperson and members of its JBC.
The delay in appointing the new chairperson and members of the JBC as well as the non-dispatch of the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to resume their works on the ground are contrary to the Agreed Minutes of the special meeting of the Cambodian-Thai JBC dated 22 October 2025 and the spirit of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) dated 27 December 2025, especially paragraphs 3 and 4, which give the highest priority to the JBC of both sides to resume the survey and demarcation works on the ground at the earliest and to allow the civilians to return to their homes at the earliest without obstruction and in safety and dignity.
However, on the ground, the Thai side has continued to occupy Cambodia's territory and has been carrying out illegal activities aimed at creating new situations on the ground (fait accompli), despite the Cambodian side having repeatedly lodged formal diplomatic protests against these illegal actions.
The State Secretariat of Border Affairs reaffirmed that pursuant to the previously agreed procedures and working protocols and in accordance with the Agreed Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Cambodian-Thai JBC dated 22 October 2025, the Thai side should have dispatched the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to resume the work of joint surveys and emplacement of temporary markers on the ground and other remaining tasks, while convening, in a cooperative manner, the technical-level meetings (Joint Technical Sub-Commission (JTSC) and Operational Group (OG)), as both sides had consistently practiced during the period 2013–2025, and in line with the statement of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, on 5 January 2026, as reported by The Nation Thailand, that "Working-level teams (...) are still continuing their tasks".
In this regard, the JBC (Cambodian side) once again sent a new note verbale dated 15 June 2026, proposing that the Thai side dispatch the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to resume their works on the ground at the earliest.
Taking this opportunity, the State Secretariat of Border Affairs reiterated to all compatriots and the national and international public that the JBC (Cambodian side) takes a firm stance in protesting against the illegal occupation of Cambodia's territory by the Thai military and the continued violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cambodia, as well as the creation of new situations on the ground (fait accompli).
The JBC (Cambodian side) declared its strong rejection of any alteration of the boundary line resulting from the use of force, whether in the past, present, and future.
=FRESH NEWS
