Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has offered opposition politician Mr. Um Sam An two options to present and verify evidence concerning the Cambodia-Thailand border between boundary markers No. 52 and 59, urging him to make a clear decision and respond promptly.
In a message shared on social media on Monday, the Prime Minister said that while he was on official visits to Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Kazakhstan and attending the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Mr. Um Sam An had issued a series of statements and given interviews regarding the border issue.
According to the Prime Minister, Mr. Um Sam An’s statements indicated that he was afraid to return to Cambodia despite assurances of safety, lacked clear documentary evidence to support his claims, and had sought to impose conditions that shifted the discussion from verifying his allegations to requesting a pardon.
Samdech Thipadei stressed that the opportunity for dialogue remained open. He said the initiative aimed to allow Mr. Um Sam An’s team to meet with the Royal Government’s border affairs working group and present relevant documents and evidence to address public concerns over the border area.
As an alternative to attending in person, Mr. Um Sam An may appoint a representative or a delegation, including individuals from abroad or those already in Cambodia, to participate in the discussion and verification process, the Prime Minister said.
However, he outlined four conditions for this option. Mr. Um Sam An must grant his representatives full authority to speak on behalf of him and his team; provide them with all relevant documents, evidence and witnesses concerning the border between markers No. 52 and 59; accept the statements and arguments presented by his representatives during the discussions; and recognise the outcome of the verification process.
The Prime Minister said the Royal Government would welcome either option: Mr. LUm Sam An could lead his team to participate in person without the additional conditions he had previously raised, or appoint representatives to attend on his behalf.
He reaffirmed his guarantee of safety for Me. Um Sam An and his team if they attended in person, as well as for any representatives or delegation appointed to participate in the process.
Samdech Thipadei expressed hope that Mr. Um Sam An would choose one of the options and provide a straightforward answer soon to help resolve public doubts concerning the border area. He also urged him not to raise further reasons or excuses to avoid participation.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the Royal Government had many other responsibilities to fulfil for the nation and its people, including addressing border issues with Thailand. He called on Cambodians across the political spectrum to give the government the opportunity to handle the complicated and unresolved border situation with Thailand responsibly.
He added that the allegations that the Royal Government had ceded Cambodian territory to Thailand between boundary markers No. 52 and 59 were too serious to ignore, prompting him to respond directly.
