Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia, has voiced strong support for the Royal Government’s deployment of troops and heavy weaponry to the border area in preparation for national defence.
“I do not wish to see any armed conflict break out, but I fully support the Royal Government’s decision to deploy troops and heavy weaponry to the border area as a means of preparing for defence in the event of continued aggression,” he said in a message on his official social media channels this evening.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen also expressed hope that the talks scheduled for tomorrow between the army commanders of both nations will produce positive results, and there will be no tension along the entire stretch of the border that could obstruct cooperation in other sectors, which are of mutual benefit to both countries.
The Senate President took the opportunity to extend his deep condolences and sympathy to the family of the late Warrant Officer Suon Ron, who lost his life due to the assault by invading forces.
“A peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developing border should never witness such incidents. I strongly condemn any individual, entity, or authority that made the decision to carry out such an act of aggression, which resembles the incursions that occurred between 2008 and 2011 at the Preah Vihear temple,” he said.
Besides, Samdech Techo Hun Sen appealed to his fellow citizens not to escalate this conflict into ethnic hatred and to place trust in the government’s and both nations’ military efforts to resolve the issue. “We hate war, but we are compelled to wage it when facing foreign aggression—just as we did between 2008 and 2011—by utilising a three-pronged approach: military, diplomatic, and legal approaches,” he underlined.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of National Defence this afternoon, the armed clash between Cambodian and Thai forces occurred in Techo Morokot village, Morokot commune, Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province early this morning, when Thai troops allegedly opened fire on a long-established Cambodian military trench.
“This clash is not what Cambodia seeks. We will continue discussions with the Thai Ministry of Defence to find a common solution, restore normalcy quickly, and prevent such incidents from recurring,” the statement emphasised.
The ministry reaffirmed Cambodia’s adherence to resolving disputes through diplomatic and peaceful means, while also reiterating its commitment to defending its territorial integrity at all costs.
