Phnom Penh: General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, has written a letter of complaint to General ROMEO S. BRAWNER JR, Chief of Staff of the Philippines, regarding the activities of the ASEAN Observer Team in Thailand (AOT) in planting saplings in the Khnar Temple area on June 30, 2026.
According to his letter to General ROMEO S. BRAWNER JR, the Philippine Joint Chiefs of Staff expressed deep concern over an activity that occurred on June 26, 2026, when members of the Thai AOT team, accompanied by Thai armed forces, crossed into Cambodian territory near the Khnar Temple, located in Khnar Village, Krasaing Commune, Chongkal District, Oddar Meanchey Province, without prior notice or cooperation with the Cambodian side at any level.
Mr. Vong Pisen stated that after entering Cambodian territory without permission, they continued to plant saplings. On the contrary, the Cambodian side always carried out all AOT observation activities and strictly informed the Thai side at all relevant levels. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces subsequently clearly stated that the above-mentioned relevant areas are within Cambodian territory as shown in the map attached as Appendix “B”. Despite Cambodia’s clear statement about the location of the area, the Thai AOT team, accompanied by Thai armed forces, still entered Cambodian territory without informing or requesting any consent from the Cambodian side.
The letter states that “the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces consider these actions This is completely inconsistent with the principles of neutrality, trust-building, and mutual respect, which are the foundations of the establishment of the AOT group mechanism. Any actions taken beyond the agreed jurisdiction, especially in sensitive border areas, risk undermining the trust that both sides have worked hard to build and could negatively impact ongoing efforts to achieve a peaceful and sustainable resolution to border-related issues.”
Mr. Vong Pisen said that in order to maintain the trust and integrity of the AOT mechanism, he requested the support of ROMEO S. BRAWNER JR in reviewing the above activities and ensuring that all AOT officers strictly adhere to the agreed terms of reference and maintain the neutrality expected in this mission. Strict adherence to these terms is crucial to maintaining mutual trust and ensuring that the AOT continues to serve its intended purpose as a mechanism for de-escalation and confidence-building.
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