Cambodia calls for Thailand to pull forces from disputed border areas, accusing it of seizing territory during recent deadly clashes.
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has called on neighbouring Thailand to withdraw its forces from areas Phnom Penh claims as its own.
The demand comes one week after a truce halted deadly clashes along their disputed border.
The decades-old dispute erupted into military clashes several times last year, with fighting in December killing dozens.
The clashes displaced around one million people on both sides of the frontier.
A truce agreed on December 27 ended three weeks of sustained conflict.
Cambodia alleges that during the fighting, Thailand seized several areas across four border provinces.
Phnom Penh’s foreign ministry demanded the withdrawal of “all Thai military personnel and equipment from the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia”.
It insisted Thai forces must return to positions “fully consistent with the legally established boundary”.
The Thai army has rejected claims it used force to seize Cambodian territory.
It insists its forces are present in areas that have always belonged to Thailand.
The Cambodian statement also called on Thailand to immediately end “all hostile military activities” along the frontier.
It specified this demand includes activities “within Cambodian territory”.
The conflict stems from a dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre border.
Both sides claim territory and centuries-old temple ruins in the area.
On Friday, Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra accused Thailand of an “illegal annexation”.
He specifically cited the border village of Chouk Chey.
The Thai army disputed Phnom Penh’s narrative of events.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his country “has never breached another country’s sovereignty”.
He stated Thailand has “acted in line with international regulations”.
Anutin made the remarks while visiting troops deployed to the border province of Surin.
