Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Oum Reatrey has formally protested the decision of Thai authorities in Sa Kaeo province regarding plans to prosecute Cambodians in Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages under Thai domestic law.
The villagers have lived there for decades, however, on September 28, with complete disregard for a 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 2000), Thai authorities re-hung signs and billboards announcing their intention to evict the villager and enforce Thai law.
The signs accused Cambodians dwelling in the two villages, in Banteay Meanchey’s O Beichoan commune in Ou Chrov district, of living on and cultivating land which is Thai territory. They have been told to depart, or they will face Thai domestic law.
“The contents of the Thai announcements are a serious threat to the rights of the innocent Cambodian citizens who have been living and earning a livelihood in these two villages for a very long time, even before the Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of the Cambodia-Thailand Land Boundary (MoU 2000) came into force,” said Reatrey, in a formal letter of protest.
“At the same time, the Banteay Meanchey provincial administration would like to clarify that the Sa Kaeo provincial administration does not have the authority to define borders or enforce domestic Thai law on Cambodian communities that are living and earning a livelihood in areas where boundary demarcation has not yet been completed. According to the MoU 2000 and the minutes of the special meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on September 10, 2025, both sides agreed to maintain the status quo until the border demarcation work is completed,” he added.
The governor considered Thailand’s unilateral actions provocative, and warned that they are increasing tensions in the disputed areas. They are also a violation of the ceasefire agreement of July 28, the outcomes of the extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on August 7, and the outcome of the extraordinary meeting of the Regional Border Committee (RBC), where both sides committed to easing tensions along the border.
Reatrey said that in the case of Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages, the Cambodian and Thai sides have previously agreed to task the Joint Border Committee (JBC) with discussing and resolving the issue.
He also said both sides have assigned the Regional Border Committee (RBC) to discuss the management of this issue as soon as possible, in accordance with the results of discussions by the JBC.