Cambodia Protests Thai Legal Complaint Against Top Leaders

PHNOM PENH, Jan 29, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia has lodged a formal protest against a legal complaint filed in Thailand against its top leaders, warning the move could undermine efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the complaint, reportedly submitted to a Thai local court by the Secretary-General of Thailand’s National Security Council, targets Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet over military operations along the Thai-Cambodian border in 2025.

Phnom Penh described the complaint as “counterproductive” to ongoing de-escalation efforts and inconsistent with the spirit of the Joint Statement issued at the 3rd Special General Border Committee Meeting on December 27, 2025.

Officials added that such legal action runs counter to the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

“Any attempt to initiate domestic legal proceedings against the senior leadership of a sovereign state for actions taken in the course of their official duties, particularly related to national defense and territorial integrity, has no basis under international law,” the ministry said.

Cambodia urged Thailand to resolve the matter, warning the complaint could jeopardize ceasefire arrangements and ongoing efforts to restore confidence and normal relations between the two neighbors.

Thai media quoted National Security Council Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad as saying he had filed the complaint against Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet over the 2025 border clashes.

Chatchai said the NSC, together with public prosecutors, traveled to the frontier to submit the case, identifying the Cambodian leaders as those who ordered the military operations.