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CMF: 21/10/2026
I welcome Mr. Um Sam An’s positive response to my invitation for him and his team of border experts to bring all the documents and evidence they possess concerning the Cambodia–Thailand border between Boundary Markers No. 52 and No. 59 to discuss with the technical team of Cambodia’s Secretariat of State for Border Affairs. The purpose is to present his arguments in support of his allegations that the Royal Government has ceded Cambodian territory to Thailand in that area.
Over the past nearly two weeks, Mr. Um Sam An’s position has changed repeatedly. At one point, he said he did not dare to come because he feared being secretly shot or beaten on the head. At another point, he said he would come only if he were granted a pardon. Now, he says he will come without requiring a pardon. At one point, he claimed to have sufficient documents and evidence; at another, he said he had no clear documents and was relying only on what others had told him or on his own special intuition. At one point, he said he would accept the outcome of the discussions only if French border experts were present. At another, he said he would not discuss the border between Markers No. 52 and No. 59 but instead wanted to discuss the entire border, including both maritime and land boundaries. He has also said that, as a politician, he must come to discuss or engage in political activities, and so on.
My position has been clear and unchanged from the outset: I have invited Mr. Um Sam An and his team of border experts to bring all the documents and evidence they possess concerning the Cambodia–Thailand border between Boundary Markers No. 52 and No. 59, particularly the locations where he has accused the Royal Government and its border working team of placing boundary markers inside Cambodian territory, thereby causing Cambodia to lose territory to Thailand.
Therefore, to ensure clarity, I would like to specify several conditions for the forthcoming discussions and verification:
1. The discussions must be conducted on a technical basis and supported by specific documentary evidence. There shall be only one topic: discussions and verification concerning the Cambodia–Thailand border between Boundary Markers No. 52 and No. 59, regarding which Mr. Um Sam An and his team have accused the Royal Government of ceding territory to Thailand.
Accordingly, he and his team must assemble a clearly identified team of border experts with the necessary technical knowledge of boundary matters and prepare all relevant documents and evidence in their possession for joint verification at the specified location within Cambodian territory. The discussions must be based on technical expertise and specific documentary evidence.
2. No activities other than discussions and verification based on technical expertise and specific documentary evidence with the Royal Government’s border working team concerning the Cambodia–Thailand border between Boundary Markers No. 52 and No. 59 shall be permitted.
In particular, no political activities of any kind may be undertaken during the period when his team is in Cambodia, whether covertly or openly. In short, he must not take advantage of this opportunity for other purposes.
3. The discussions may take place at any time after November 28, 2026. Before that date, the Royal Government will be occupied with preparations for the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) Summit, which Cambodia will host, as well as participation in the third meeting of the Commission of Conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), involving Cambodia and Thailand.
4. The delegation must arrive in Cambodia no earlier than two days before the discussions and verification begin, and must leave Cambodia no later than two days after the discussions and verification have been completed.
I would like to clarify that my assurance applies exclusively to Mr. Um Sam An’s visit to Cambodia for discussions and verification concerning the Cambodia–Thailand border between Boundary Markers No. 52 and No. 59, and only within the timeframe specified above.
If Mr. Um Sam An accepts the above conditions, I request that he confirm the following:
The composition of the delegation that will participate and the date and time of its arrival in Cambodia.
Any requirements that the Royal Government may be able to provide for him and his team, including accommodation, transportation, or security protection, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
