Phnom Penh: Government Spokesperson Pen Bona has emphasized that the actual land surveying and demarcation work is the exclusive responsibility of the Joint Border and Boundary Commission (JBC).
In his daily briefing on the Cambodia-Thailand border situation on May 18, 2026, Pen Bona said that the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) under the Philippine mandate on the morning of May 17, 2026 continued to observe, verify, and report on the situation in the area of Sok Sang Village, O Bei Chon Commune, O Chrov District, Banteay Meanchey Province, where the Thai military launched a forceful attack and then set up barbed wire and deployed containers to illegally occupy the land, preventing many Cambodian families from returning to their homes.
He said The observation of the location where the Thai military illegally occupies Cambodian territory highlights the urgent and urgent need for the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to begin the border survey work as soon as possible, in accordance with the existing agreement as stated in point 3 of the Joint Declaration of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Boundary Commission (GBC) on December 27, 2025, to allow Cambodian citizens to return to their homes without hindrance, in safety and dignity.
The spokesperson added that “Cambodia would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the survey and demarcation of the actual land is the exclusive competence of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC). In this regard, all armed forces, including the military, as well as local authorities, have no authority to mark the actual border line on the ground.
He stressed that the verification work And to confirm the international border line between the two countries on the ground is the responsibility of the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) under the structure of the JBC Commission of the two sides. In addition, Cambodia absolutely does not recognize any modification of the Cambodian-Thai international border line that is contrary to the Convention, the Franco-Siamese Treaty and the map.
