Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has issued a strong warning to Thailand, saying any unilateral move to block Cambodians from visiting disputed temple areas would amount to crossing Cambodia’s red line.
Speaking at a National Fisheries Day event on July 1, Hun Manet said the Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, Ta Krabei temples and the Mom Bei area remain under dispute and are currently awaiting resolution by the International Court of Justice. He stressed that no single party has the right to close off access to these zones unilaterally.
Hun Manet warned that if Thailand were to close these sites on its own authority, it would escalate tensions and be seen as a serious provocation. He urged the Thai side to maintain the current situation without any changes.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that international legal experts are expected to arrive in Cambodia on Tuesday evening to begin discussions on Cambodia’s legal complaint filed with the ICJ concerning the four contested areas.
The warning follows comments made on June 24 by Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, cited in The Nation newspaper. Phumtham Wechayachai said he had granted full authority to the commander of Thailand’s Second Army Region to decide whether to close access to the Ta Moan Thom temple, arguing that military commanders on the ground are best positioned to assess the security situation and take appropriate measures.
Phumtham Wechayachai noted that field commanders have the ability to evaluate the level of risk at any given time and could request the closure of the Ta Moan Thom temple if deemed necessary.
The Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, and Ta Krabei temples, along with the Mom Bei area, are not recognized by Cambodia as Thai territory. Cambodian authorities have submitted the dispute to the International Court of Justice following a deadly border incident in late May, when a Thai soldier shot and killed a Cambodian soldier at Mom Bei.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence has recently reaffirmed its position, citing French-Siamese treaties from 1904 and 1907, along with official maps drawn to a 1:200,000 scale. Based on these documents, the ministry maintains that the Ta Moan Thom temple is located well within Cambodia’s sovereign territory.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between the two neighbours over unresolved border demarcation and historic claims, with both sides maintaining military presence near the contested zones.
