Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn has rejected accusations that Cambodia is portraying itself as a victim on the international stage, insisting that the Kingdom cannot deny what it describes as the “reality of Thai troops occupying Cambodian territory and preventing more than 20,000 displaced civilians from returning to their homes”.
Sokhonn shared his comments during a special interview with National Television of Cambodia (TVK) on October 20. His appearance followed the second meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand Conciliation Commission under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), held from October 14 to 18 in The Hague, the Netherlands.
“Cambodia has no need to ‘play’ the victim because we are the victim,” he said.
Sokhonn reiterated that Cambodia cannot remain silent about what it considers violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly while tens of thousands of civilians remain unable to return to their homes.
According to the minister, Thai troops continue to occupy areas that Cambodia maintains are within its sovereign territory, preventing displaced residents from returning to their villages.
He stressed that raising these issues in international forums was an exercise in Cambodia’s legitimate right to defend its national interests and present the facts, rather than an attempt to fabricate allegations or exploit humanitarian suffering to gain international sympathy.
His remarks came amid continuing disagreements between Cambodia and Thailand over the situation along their land border and the implementation of the December 27, 2025, ceasefire agreement.
Cambodia has repeatedly called on Thailand to respect existing agreements, including provisions intended to ensure that civilians affected by the conflict can return safely to their homes without obstruction.
Sokhonn reaffirmed that Cambodia remained committed to resolving disputes peacefully through negotiations, bilateral mechanisms and international law, rather than military confrontation.
He also noted that land and maritime boundary disputes between Cambodia and Thailand were legally distinct matters governed by separate frameworks and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
“The land issue and the maritime issue are two separate matters,” he said.
He acknowledged that tensions along the land border could negatively affect the atmosphere surrounding maritime negotiations as a successful settlement will require mutual trust and confidence.
Sokhonn said Cambodia had explained this position to the conciliation commission, stressing that its decision to initiate maritime conciliation under UNCLOS should not be used as justification for suspending or terminating agreements relating to land boundary negotiations.
The minister explained that the maritime conciliation proceedings were intended to protect Cambodia’s legitimate rights and interests following Thailand’s unilateral termination of the 2001 memorandum of understanding governing maritime negotiations.
On October 14, the Thai representative at the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva rejected Cambodia’s allegations that Thai troops were occupying Cambodian territory.
Benjamin Sukanjanajtee, Thailand’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, claimed that the buildings Cambodia described as displaced civilians’ homes were situated within Thai territory.
He argued that Thailand’s security measures were consistent with the December 27 ceasefire agreement, which required both sides to maintain their military positions as they stood when the ceasefire took effect.
Cambodia rejected that interpretation.
Keo Sovann, Cambodia’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, disputed Thailand’s account, describing it as an inaccurate representation of the situation along the border.
He maintained that Cambodia had neither initiated the conflict nor sought to escalate tensions, and that its statements about displaced civilians reflected genuine humanitarian concerns requiring resolution.
During the October 20 interview, Sokhonn also discussed the outcome of the second meeting of the UNCLOS Conciliation Commission, saying Cambodia and Thailand had agreed on a package of confidence-building measures intended to reduce tensions and facilitate peaceful negotiations.
Among the measures was recognition of both countries’ right to make public statements to defend their legitimate rights and interests or correct factual misinformation and disinformation.
At the same time, the parties acknowledged the importance of constructive public communication and avoiding accusations that could undermine confidence in the ongoing conciliation process.
The agreement is particularly significant against the backdrop of competing Cambodian and Thai accounts of the border conflict, including disagreements over territorial control, civilian displacement and responsibility for the hostilities.
Sokhonn said Cambodia would continue presenting its position through appropriate diplomatic and international legal channels while respecting the peaceful dispute-resolution process.
He stressed that the conciliation mechanism was not a judicial proceeding intended to determine which country was right or wrong, but a process designed to narrow differences and facilitate a mutually acceptable maritime settlement.
During the meeting in The Hague, Cambodian and Thai delegations presented their respective legal arguments, positions and supporting evidence to the commission in separate confidential sessions.
The discussions also covered confidence-building measures, including the establishment of a direct hotline between the commanders of the two navies, the restoration of diplomatic representation and the avoidance of threats or the use of force in maritime areas.
Sokhonn described the second meeting as constructive, saying it had allowed the commission to better understand Cambodia’s position while advancing measures to strengthen mutual trust.
However, no final agreement on maritime boundary delimitation was reached.
The third meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand Conciliation Commission is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 23 to 27, 2026, while a fourth meeting is planned for The Hague in late January 2027.