Cambodian Senate Urges ASEAN Investigation After Border Gunfire Incident

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Sept.27, 2025) — Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday called on the ASEAN-led Interim Observer Team to conduct an urgent on-site investigation following a reported ceasefire violation at the An Seh border checkpoint in Preah Vihear province.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the incident involved mortars and machine guns, raising concerns about stability in the border region. He and Prime Minister Hun Manet held an emergency online meeting to assess the situation and instructed Cambodian armed forces to exercise restraint and avoid retaliation.

“Today, a ceasefire violation occurred involving heavy weapons,” Samdech Techo Hun Sen said. “We must act with responsibility and prevent any escalation. That is why we have chosen diplomacy and transparency over confrontation.”

Following the exchange, both Cambodia and Thailand accused each other of breaching the ceasefire agreement. Each submitted complaints to the observer team, with Cambodia requesting an immediate investigation on the ground.

An Ses Border Checkpoint, August 12, 2025

Samdech Techo Hun Sen submitted a formal proposal to the Malaysian military leadership, which currently chairs the ASEAN-led team. The proposal outlines two key investigative tasks: conducting ballistic forensics to identify the source of the gunfire, and inspecting shell impact sites to determine the direction of fire.

“Shell trajectories cannot be manipulated after impact,” Hun Sen said.
Cambodian forces are reportedly preserving shell craters and securing the area to ensure accurate forensic analysis. Samdech Techo Hun Sen also urged Thailand to cooperate fully with the investigation.

“Just as pure gold does not fear fire, any refusal to allow inspections by IOT observers would imply guilt, whether on the Cambodian side or the Thai side,” he said.

The situation remains tense, with both governments under pressure to clarify the events and prevent further escalation.