Members of the ASEAN Interim Observers Team (IOT) arrived in Preah Vihear province today to inspect Cambodian military positions, a day after Cambodia accused Thai forces of launching mortar and small arms attacks in the area.
The visit, coordinated by Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, took place on the morning of September 28 in the An Seh area of Choam Khsan district.
“The purpose of the visit was to observe, verify, and report on the situation following the implementation of the ceasefire,” said ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata.
According to the Defence Ministry, the alleged attacks occurred in two phases:
- First round: 11:52 a.m. to 12:22 p.m.
- Second round: 12:25 p.m. to 12:46 p.m.
Socheata emphasized that Cambodian troops did not retaliate, in strict compliance with the July 28 ceasefire agreement signed between the two neighboring countries.
The ministry condemned the incident as a “serious provocation”, accusing Thailand of initiating the violence and then unjustly blaming Cambodia for the exchange.
“These actions undermine respect for the ceasefire agreement, increase tensions, and threaten the peace process,” Socheata warned.
In response, Cambodia has requested that the ASEAN observer mission conduct a forensic examination of the impact site to determine the type and origin of the munitions used. Officials stressed the importance of establishing “accurate, transparent, and accountable” facts to maintain fairness and public trust in the peace process.
On September 27, Cambodian Acting Head of State and Senate President Hun Sen held an online consultation with Prime Minister Hun Manet, urging the Malaysia-led ASEAN observer team to thoroughly investigate the reported violations.
Hun Sen reiterated via social media that both Cambodia and Thailand had filed formal complaints and called for an on-site inspection to ensure objectivity and transparency.
