Phnom Penh: Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Acting Head of State of Cambodia, expressed hope that Cambodia and Thailand will join hands to an international mechanism with jurisdiction over maritime issues after the Thai side abrogated the MOU 2001.
Through the social networking site Facebook on May 6, 2026, Samdech Techo Hun Sen emphasized that “I fully support the Royal Government’s position on the resolution of the maritime area between Cambodia and Thailand after the Thai side unilaterally abrogated the MOU 2001. “There should be no bilateral mechanism to replace the MOU 2001 mechanism. Instead, we should move towards the 1982 Law of the Sea mechanism so that we can resolve the issue with a third party participating in seeking justice, as Prime Minister Hun Sen mentioned yesterday.”
For the King, who has been doing this since former Prime Minister Chat Chai Chung-hawan from 1989 to 1990 and continued to sign the MOU 2001, I truly regret the unilateral cancellation by the Thai side under the reason (no progress).
The King clarified why there has been no progress? The Thai side itself knows better than anyone. How many times has Thailand changed prime ministers since the coup that overthrew former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006? Cambodia has been led by Prime Minister Hun Sen and then by Prime Minister Hun Manet, without changing the mechanism and content of the negotiations. At the same time, Thailand has changed about 10 prime ministers. Is this one of the reasons for the lack of progress?
The Prime Minister further stated that although Thailand has changed many prime ministers, the leaders still show that they are continuing to negotiate. Even the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva sent Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuaksuban and Minister of National Defense Prawit Wongsuwan to meet with me at Takhmao’s house in 2010. It was then that the two elites first tasted Khmer soup that my wife personally cooked for the two distinguished guests for lunch.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen said, “Cambodia is moving towards international law. Please do not accuse Cambodia of internationalizing bilateral issues. Please do not say that we are falling into the trap of Cambodia wanting third parties or international participation. Please do not ask Cambodia to prepare a new bilateral mechanism to replace the old bilateral mechanism that Thailand unilaterally abolished. “Hopefully, Cambodia and Thailand will join hands to lead the international mechanism that has jurisdiction over maritime issues.”
This site is translated by Google Translate™
