Displaced families still blocked from homes as Cambodia accuses Thai forces of border occupation

PHNOM PENH, July 6, 2026 (KPT) — Displaced families along Cambodia’s frontier with Thailand remain unable to return home, with the Interior Ministry accusing Thai forces of continuing to occupy and damage villages despite a ceasefire agreement.

In a statement covering July 5–6, the ministry said that out of more than 640,000 civilians uprooted during the conflict, 20,923 people are still displaced, including 10,674 women and 6,066 children.

It said affected areas remain inaccessible due to what it described as ongoing occupation and destruction of property by Thai troops.

The ministry reported that schools and health facilities in provinces such as Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear remain closed, though no new damage beyond previously documented cases had been recorded.

Government spokesman Pen Bona restated the key terms of the December 2025 ceasefire with Thailand, saying they remain vital to maintaining peace along the frontier.

He outlined six measures agreed under the Joint Statement of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee, including an immediate ceasefire, a freeze on troop movements and a ban on reinforcing military deployments.

The agreement also reaffirmed commitments to resume border survey and demarcation work through the Joint Boundary Commission, with priority given to populated areas.

Pen Bona said the arrangements further call for the safe return of displaced civilians and prohibit actions that could escalate tensions, such as incursions or construction of military infrastructure.

Cambodia said it supported the government’s formal protest against what it called continued violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity. It cited incidents on July 2, when Thai forces allegedly installed barbed wire in disputed border areas.

Officials said such actions breached the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on land boundary demarcation and commitments under a joint border statement signed in December 2025, which called for de‑escalation and renewed work through the Joint Boundary Commission.

The ministry urged adherence to existing agreements and called for diplomatic mechanisms to resolve the dispute peacefully, stressing the need to allow displaced residents to return home.