On 26/6, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen visited Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailand. He met with commanders of Brigades 2 and 3 at the Samraong Military Headquarters in the provincial capital. Amid tensions at the Cambodia-Thailand border, he emphasized to the commanders that they "must not hesitate or waver in the face of any threat".
During his trip, Hun Sen also inspected the situation at border hotspots and visited Cambodian soldiers stationed at key positions.
This was Hun Sen's first visit to Oddar Meanchey province since the clash at Mom Bei nearly a month prior, an event that escalated tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.
 |
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen visited army units in the border province of Oddar Meanchey on 26/6. Photo: Facebook/Samdech Hun Sen of Cambodia |
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen visited army units in the border province of Oddar Meanchey on 26/6. Photo: Facebook/Samdech Hun Sen of Cambodia
According to Senate spokesperson Chea Thyrith, during this trip, Hun Sen accepted the role of Commander-in-Chief in charge of Logistics for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) at the request of all frontline commanders. He emphasized that the RCAF need not worry about logistics when carrying out operations to protect territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
A day earlier, while receiving General Morishita Yasunori, Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Hun Sen affirmed that Cambodia still wishes to resolve the border dispute in the areas of Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Tauch, Ta Krabei, and Mom Bei peacefully, prioritizing arbitration at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands.
He criticized Thailand for unilaterally closing border crossings and taking actions that violate Cambodian sovereignty. He also called on Thailand to avoid further escalating tensions.
"Cambodia's position is clear: we want a peaceful resolution through negotiations and legal mechanisms. We want a border of cooperation and friendship, free from conflict," Hun Sen stressed.
Thanh Danh (Khmer Times, Fresh News Asia)
