Prey chan: The Interim Observer Team (IOT), led by Malaysia, returned to Prey Chan village, O' Beichoan commune, O' Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, at 7:20 p.m. today to inspect the site of a clash that left 28 Cambodian civilians and monks injured.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the incident began earlier in the afternoon, shortly after the IOT had completed its mission in the village. Around 300 Thai armed forces and civilians, equipped with riot gear, batons, and slingshots, set up barbed wire in Prey Chan village. They subsequently used tear gas and sonic weapons against Cambodian citizens and unarmed forces who had gathered to protest peacefully.
'The actions of the Thai joint forces constitute a grave violation of the ceasefire spirit and of the principles agreed upon in all previous GBC and RBC meetings,' stressed H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, Under Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, at a press briefing this evening.
She further underlined that the imposition of martial law and Thai domestic regulations on Cambodian territory represents a serious breach of Cambodia's sovereignty and international law, including the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and other universally recognised legal principles.
'In the face of violent actions by the Thai side, Cambodian citizens-the landowners-have protested and responded peacefully,' she said. 'Their actions stem from deep concern over Thailand's unilateral use of force and installation of barbed wire within Cambodia's sovereign territory, as well as the threat posed to their legally owned properties, which they have managed and benefited from for many years.'