A senior figure from Cambodia’s opposition has called on citizens and politicians across the political spectrum to unite in the face of what he described as territorial encroachment by Thailand.
Speaking during a televised appearance on Idea Talk, hosted by The Cambodia Daily on the night of June 2, Um Sam An, a member of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), urged all Cambodians to put aside domestic political divisions to focus on defending national sovereignty.
He made a particular appeal for solidarity in light of recent tensions with Thailand, which he accused of violating Cambodian territory.
Um Sam An also called on Prime Minister Hun Sen to release all political prisoners, arguing that doing so would help restore democracy and human rights in the country. He said those imprisoned for political reasons are “Khmer at heart” and had acted out of a desire to protect Cambodia from foreign threats.
The opposition figure expressed skepticism over the current government’s commitment to pursuing legal action against Thailand. He questioned whether Cambodia would follow through with its pledge to bring the border dispute before the International Court of Justice if there were negotiations between former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian political leader Hun Sen. The two men are known to have close ties.
Um Sam An warned that failure to take the matter to the international court, and instead continuing bilateral talks under Thai pressure, would disadvantage Cambodia. He claimed Thailand prefers two-party negotiations or even the threat of armed conflict, believing that such approaches would favor its position in the ongoing border dispute.
His remarks came just hours before Cambodia’s National Assembly and Senate unanimously approved a government proposal to file a case against Thailand at the International Court of Justice over contested border areas.
Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that Cambodia will proceed with the lawsuit regardless of whether Thailand agrees to participate. The case will focus on three key sites: the area surrounding Moum Bei, the Ta Moan Thom and Ta Moan Toch temples, and the Ta Krabey temple complex.
