International experts: Thai military land illegally occupied, will never become legal ownership

Phnom Penh: Dr. Ann Pasty, an international law expert, has clearly stated that the Cambodian territory that the Thai military is illegally occupying will never become legal ownership as long as Cambodia continues to protest and deny it as it currently does.
 
In a special interview during a lecture program on “Forced Mediation Mechanism: A Strategy for Resolving Cambodia-Thailand Maritime Disputes in Accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and Related International Mechanisms” at the National Assembly Palace on May 25, 2026, Dr. Ann Pasty stated that according to international law, as long as Cambodia continues to file complaints and issue diplomatic representations against unilateral violations by the Thai side as it is currently doing, Cambodia will not lose its sovereign rights.
 
He added that the illegal occupation by the Thai side cannot become legal either.
 
The expert stated that “According to international law, according to the rules of international law, as long as ownership continues to be contested, denied illegal occupation, unilateral occupation, illegal occupation by another party, as long as the Cambodian side that is contesting does not lose its ownership rights.”
 
Dr. Ann Pasty said that this principle has been adopted in judgments in many international cases, which serve as the legal basis for resolving sovereignty disputes between states. Therefore, the Cambodian embassy, which many relevant ministries and institutions have continuously protested against the Thai military’s illegal occupation of Cambodian territory, is a strong legal basis to confirm that Cambodia absolutely does not accept or allow the Thai side to occupy its national sovereignty.