Prime Minister Hun Sen has written to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, thanking him for lending Cambodia 18 maps of the Kingdom to solve disputes over the Vietnam border.

Hun Sen requested the internationally recognised maps held by the UN in July amid criticism by the Cambodia National Rescue Party that the government had ceded land to Vietnam by using the wrong charts to demarcate the border.

In his letter dated August 23, Hun Sen thanked the UN and attacked the opposition.

“I, once again, would like to confirm the generosity of the United Nations [which] really has contributed to the efforts of Cambodian Royal Government . . . to end irresponsible incitement [by people] not afraid of abusing the law in order to create nationalism.”

He continued, saying “some circles in Cambodia” had tried to force “a national split” as well as “create confusion” to gain politically.

Following a ceremony last week, in which the government claimed its maps and the UN maps matched, validating its demarcation efforts, Hun Sen said anyone who accused authorities of using the wrong maps would face legal action.