BANGKOK, Thailand – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia has submitted a protest note to Thailand, alleging unauthorized entry by a group of foreign military attachés and law enforcement officials, led by the Royal Thai Army, into a hotel in O’Smach, Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia, on February 2, 2026. Cambodia claimed this constituted a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as breaches of the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter.
Major General Winthai Suvaree, Army Spokesperson, clarified that the area referred to by Cambodia has been under Thai control and deployment since the cessation of hostilities on December 27, 2025. This arrangement is in accordance with the Joint Statement of the Special Session of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC), specifically Article 2, which stipulates that both sides agreed to maintain existing deployments without additional troop movements or patrols into opposing positions. Therefore, Thai operations in the area do not constitute a violation of international agreements.
Regarding allegations that buildings were used as scam centers, the spokesperson explained that after Thai forces secured the area—previously used for hostile military operations against Thailand—security inspections revealed evidence of transnational online fraud (cyber scams) within casino complexes.
Thai authorities subsequently coordinated with relevant agencies to verify evidence, in line with Article 10 of the Joint Statement, which commits both parties to cooperation in combating transnational crime, including cybercrime and human trafficking.
The spokesperson further noted that the Royal Thai Police had previously requested Cambodian cooperation in joint inspections to dismantle scam networks, but Cambodia has yet to respond.
Thailand reaffirmed its readiness to share intelligence and precise coordinates of scam centers located within Cambodian-controlled areas, should Cambodia wish to act in accordance with the Joint Statement.
On claims that the Royal Thai Army escorted foreign military attachés into O’Smach, Oddar Meanchey Province, the spokesperson confirmed that the attachés did visit Chong Chom, Surin Province, Thailand, to observe border security operations as part of routine duties. However, they did not enter Thai-controlled areas across the border, nor O’Smach, as alleged.
The Royal Thai Army reiterates its strict adherence to all provisions of the Joint Statement and urges Cambodia to thoroughly verify information before presenting it publicly, so as to avoid misleading the public or disseminating inaccurate claims. Such actions risk contravening Article 8 of the Joint Statement and unnecessarily escalating tensions at a time when the situation is stabilizing. (NNT)
