Cambodian defence ministry says residents stopped Thai troops laying wire

Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said at a briefing on August 26 that Thai troops laid barbed wire at 2:20 p.m. the previous day in Chouk Chey village, O Bei Choan commune, Ou Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey, on land Cambodia describes as its territory. She said the troops were preparing to lay wire again at 3:14 p.m. when landowners and other residents intervened, leading them to remove it. She said the residents’ response from the night of August 25 to the morning of August 26, 2025, reflected concern about the wire and a wish to protect their lawful property. She said unarmed Cambodian personnel and local authorities were present to protect civilians and acted professionally and responsibly. The spokesperson said Cambodia was observing the ceasefire terms agreed at the July 28 special meeting between the two governments’ leaders and the August 7 extraordinary Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Malaysia. She credited US President Donald Trump with initiating the July 28 meeting and said Cambodia favoured a peaceful resolution and avoiding renewed military confrontation. She called on Thailand to comply fully with the ceasefire and, in particular, to honour the understandings reached at the August 22 extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting between Cambodia’s Fifth Military Region and Thailand’s First Army Region. Preah Sihanouk Provincial Television, by ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត