Border conflict & Red Line: Sovereignty trampled and Cambodian families expelled by force

In a flagrant violation of sovereignty and the most fundamental human rights, Thai soldiers crossed the border and forcibly expelled six Cambodian families from their homes in the village of Prey Chan.

This military operation, described as ‘unacceptable’ by Cambodian authorities and civil society, shines a harsh light on ongoing territorial tensions and the brutal methods employed. Photo AKP

The expulsion scenario

According to reports gathered by local Cambodian media and NGOs, and confirmed by official sources, the events took place on the morning of 15 August 2025. Thai soldiers in combat gear and heavily armed crossed the border near the O'Smach border post. They blocked road access to the village of Prey Chan before heading towards the targeted homes.

The soldiers entered the properties without a Cambodian warrant, demanding that families leave their homes and land immediately.

Witnesses reported that the soldiers brandished their weapons and made threats to force the families to comply in a state of panic. Some residents were prevented from retrieving their personal belongings or animals.

Imminent demolition

After driving out the occupants, Thai soldiers marked the homes and rice barns, suggesting that they would be demolished soon. The evicted families, including children and elderly people, are now homeless and destitute, their livelihoods destroyed.

An unacceptable act

Cambodia's response was immediate and unanimous in its severity. The governor of Banteay Meanchey province, Oum Rath, strongly condemned this ‘violation of Cambodia's territorial integrity’ and these ‘inhumane acts’. The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified and a strong official protest is expected to be lodged with the Thai authorities.

 Government spokesman Pen Bona described the action as ‘seriously illegal and contrary to the spirit of good neighbourliness’. Licadho and Adhoc immediately denounced an ‘illegal forced eviction’ and a ‘serious violation of the rights to adequate housing and property’.

They are demanding the immediate and safe return of the families to their land and an end to all Thai military interference.

Local newspapers such as Koh Santepheap and Fresh News covered the event in detail, reporting on the distress of the families and relaying the anger of local communities. The tone is unequivocal: this is a clear-cut attack on Cambodian civilians on their own soil.

The obscure strategic reasons

Although Thailand's official motivation was not clearly stated at the time of the events (Thai authorities have not generally commented immediately on such actions in the past), several strategic hypotheses are plausible, given the historical context of border disputes:

Unilateral territorial claim

The Prey Chan area may be located in a grey zone that is not clearly demarcated or claimed by Thailand. These ‘on-the-ground’ operations aim to establish a fait accompli and assert physical control, thereby forcing negotiations from a position of strength. This is a tried and tested tactic in border disputes.

Security or control

Thai soldiers may consider these dwellings too close to a border they wish to control strictly, perhaps to combat smuggling or infiltration, or simply to create a ‘clear’ buffer zone. The expulsion of civilians is then seen as a ‘security’ measure.

Pressure for negotiations

This incident could be a way of putting pressure on the Cambodian government in the context of broader bilateral negotiations on border demarcation, which is still incomplete in some areas. Creating a local crisis can be a tactic to obtain concessions elsewhere.

Although less documented in this specific case, covetousness for agricultural land or a specific geographical position (observation point, access to a road) could also be an underlying factor.

A red line crossed

The forced expulsion of Cambodian civilians by Thai soldiers on Cambodian territory is a red line that has been crossed. It is an illegal and inhumane act and a flagrant violation of Cambodia's sovereignty.

Any potential strategic justification put forward by Thailand would be totally unacceptable given the brutality of the method and the blatant disregard for international law and the rights of local populations. The international community and ASEAN mechanisms must respond firmly to this serious incident to prevent any escalation and obtain justice for the families of Prey Chan. Silence would be complicit in this injustice.

The human cost: indelible suffering

Beyond geopolitical considerations, human lives have been shattered. The six families of Prey Chan have lost much more than walls: they have lost their homes, their security, their crops, their livestock for some, and the certainty of living in peace on their land. Children are traumatised, adults are plunged into an uncertain future.