Background
The Ministry of National Defence reported that on 1 September 2026 at 10:15 a.m. the Cambodian Liaison Group coordinated an ASEAN Observer Team–Cambodia (AOT-KH) field verification mission to Koh Yor in Pak Khlang Commune, Mondol Seima District, Koh Kong Province. The press release identified the AOT-KH mission as led by the Head of Mission from the Philippines and described the visit as an observation, verification, and reporting exercise along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
The ministry stated that multiple rounds fired from 76.2mm deck guns mounted on a Thai naval ship caused damage to civilian homes, private property, and civil infrastructure at Koh Yor. The Royal Government invoked bilateral mechanisms and cited the mandate of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) while reaffirming commitments to the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) of 27 December 2025 and the Joint Declaration on the Peace Agreement of 26 October 2025.
Key Developments
The public statement documents a coordinated on-site verification by Cambodian liaison personnel and ASEAN observers following the reported naval-fired rounds at a border locality in Koh Kong Province. The ministry communicated the objective of providing ASEAN observers with a direct and comprehensive understanding of the local situation and reiterated Cambodia’s position favoring peaceful, bilateral resolution of border incidents under international law and existing bilateral agreements.
Institutional Role
The Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) performed on-the-ground coordination for the ASEAN Observer Team–Cambodia, facilitating access and verification at the affected location. The Ministry of National Defence used the field visit to emphasize official reliance on bilateral mechanisms—including the GBC and the JBC mandate—for managing Cambodia–Thailand border issues and related reporting to ASEAN channels.
Operational Implications
The ministry’s published account establishes an official record of a verified observer visit and the cited use of naval-grade 76.2mm ordnance in a border incident, information that may be referenced in subsequent bilateral or ASEAN-level discussions. The statement also documents the Royal Government’s formal invocation of prior GBC and peace-declaration commitments as the framework for pursuing recovery and restoration of normalcy in the affected area.
