Thai professor’s accusation that Cambodia violated Article 52 of the Constitution by invading Thailand is inaccurate and baseless

Thai professor’s accusation that Cambodia violated Article 52 of the Constitution by invading Thailand is inaccurate and baseless

Pariya Thevanaruemitkul, a law professor at Thailand’s Thammasat University, told Khaosod newspaper that Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Senate President of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, had violated Articles 52 and 2 of the Cambodian Constitution — a claim that was inaccurate and baseless, because:

1.Cambodia did not invade Thailand. On the morning of July 24, 2025, it was the Thai Army who launched the attacks on Cambodian troops. In their right to self-defense, the Cambodian troops used a military response within their sovereignty and territorial integrity, following the Thai Army’s intrusion into Cambodian territory. Notably, Cambodia’s defensive operations did not target innocent Thai civilians, but were strictly aimed at Thai military forces that encroached upon and violated Cambodia’s territorial integrity. 

Therefore, the professor’s accusation that Cambodia violated Article 52 of the Constitution by invading Thailand is categorically inaccurate and entirely baseless. The Royal Government of Cambodia has always adhered firmly to the principle of peaceful co-existence and positive cooperation with neighboring countries and all other nations around the world. Cambodia has never invaded any country, nor has it ever interfered—directly or indirectly—in the internal affairs of other nations, in any form whatsoever. Cambodia always seeks to resolve all issues through peaceful means, based on international law and mutual respect for each other’s interests. This principle is clearly stated in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

2.Regarding the resolution of the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, the Royal Government of Cambodia has chosen and relied on the annexed map attached to the Franco-Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907, at a scale of 1:200,000, drawn by the Franco-Siamese Border Commission. This annexed map has been internationally recognized. However, the Thai side has relied on a 1:50,000-scale map, which was unilaterally drawn and lacks international recognition, with the intention of encroaching upon Cambodia’s sovereign territory. Cambodia has firmly reaffirmed its position in rejecting the use of any maps unilaterally drawn by Thailand.

Meanwhile, the “Bonne map with a scale of 1:100,000,” as stipulated in Article 2 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia (as specified in the 1:100,000 scale map made between the years 1933-1953 and internationally recognized between the years 1963-1969), serves as the standard scale for comparing distances on the map to actual distances on the ground.

By Vong Makara

Professor and political analyst