Border Conflict & Opinion : Accountability is the Foundation for Peace

The Thai military aggression against Cambodia has demonstrated the Thai military’s willingness to ignore the laws of armed conflict, which include international laws protecting civilians and cultural property.

The attacks on Preah Vihear Temple in particular demonstrate the Thai military’s indifference to international judgments of the International Court of Justice. As readers may recall, the late King NORODOM SIHANOUK, won the legal battle against Thailand regarding Cambodia’s sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple area after securing Cambodia’s independence.

These were not small actions; rather, they reflected a strategic victory that continues to haunt Thailand today and which in no small part is a likely reason for why the Thai military appears to have targeted the Preah Vihear Temple area with artillery, drones, and aerial bombardment by F-16 fighter aircraft.

Finally, the Thai government’s support for the Thai military actions as described above demonstrates its decision to disregard its obligations under the US/ASEAN brokered ceasefire agreements. In sum, Thailand has committed multiple egregious violations of international law and there must be an accounting for this behavior, if not today, most definitely in the near future to preserve the peace and ensure the security of the region.

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YOUK CHHANG

Director Documentation Center of Cambodia

January 23, 2026