Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Vietnam misplanted posts on border: academic

Vietnam misplanted posts on border: academic

Royal Academy of Cambodia researcher Sok Touch points to a Cambodian border map during a press conference in Phnom Penh last year.
Royal Academy of Cambodia researcher Sok Touch points to a Cambodian border map during a press conference in Phnom Penh last year. Hong Menea

Vietnam misplanted posts on border: academic

Vietnam planted border posts between 5 and 50 metres inside Cambodian territory during the late 1980s, researchers from the Royal Academy of Cambodia said yesterday.

Sok Touch, the director of border research at the academy, said there are three distinct sets of border posts – those planted during the French colonial period; those planted during the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1985 – 1987); and those planted during the current regime.

Of those planted during the People’s Republic, most were planted by Vietnam, and many of these are deeper inside Cambodia than they ought to be, according to Touch.

“It is not fair; most posts were planted 5 metres, some 10 metres, and others about 20 to 50 metres inside Cambodia,” he said.

The lack of global positioning technology at the time may have led to errors, Touch added, noting that Vietnam has not planted any border posts inside Cambodia since the late 1980s.

Koy Pisey, the vice president of Cambodia’s border committee, declined to comment on Touch’s findings, and added that a 2005 treaty with Vietnam was meant to correct “gaps” in an earlier 1985 treaty.

Opposition lawmaker Um Sam An, who has campaigned actively on the border issue, said yesterday the border posts are even deeper in Cambodian territory than the researchers claim.

“Cambodian people lost many hectares of land when the new posts were planted,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication