Cambodian expert accuses Thai politicians of “law of the jungle” over border MoU move

PHNOM PENH, Mar. 25, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodian analysts have accused Thai politicians of adopting a “Law of the Jungle” approach after a Senate committee in Bangkok proposed cancelling the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding on border issues with Cambodia.

Political scientist Yang Peou said repeated efforts to revoke the MoU reflected a lack of willingness to resolve disputes peacefully.

He argued that cancelling the deal would contradict commitments made by past Thai leaders and undermine agreed principles of international law.

“Thai side really wants to solve the border issue by using force and violence, which contradicts previous agreements and international law,” he said.

Peou stressed that the Cambodia–Thailand border has already been recognised in treaties and documents, requiring only continued demarcation under existing frameworks such as the General Border Committee.

He rejected suggestions of determining a new boundary based on past uses of force, describing such an approach as unacceptable.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, echoed the concerns, warning that Cambodia could take the matter to an international court if Thailand formally withdrew.

“Thailand cannot cancel this MoU unilaterally because it has already been adopted into international law,” he said.

The Thai Senate committee cited alleged violations and slow progress in demarcation as reasons for its proposal, which is expected to go before the Senate in April before cabinet review.

Analysts say the move risks escalating tensions and undermining mechanisms designed to keep the dispute within legal and diplomatic frameworks.

Observers note that the debate comes at a sensitive time, with ASEAN emphasizing peaceful resolution of disputes under its charter.

Any unilateral withdrawal, they warn, could test regional mechanisms and strain Cambodia–Thailand relations, raising questions about stability along one of Southeast Asia’s most contested borders.