A golden opportunity for Mr. Um Sam An and his group to demonstrate their capability as responsible border experts.
Mr. Um Sam An, a former convict who previously served prison time for disseminating baseless border-related information, has recently rebranded himself as a border expert. He continues to speak extensively on the Cambodia-Thailand border issue without clear grounds, just as before. In recent days, he raised concerns regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border section between Border Posts No. 52 and 59, alleging that the temporary markers planted by the technical team of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Commission (JBC) largely encroach into Cambodian land, resulting in a loss of territory, and claiming that the Royal Government ceded land to Thailand in exchange for peace and power.
Such assertions do not merely accuse the Royal Government; they directly accuse Cambodia’s technical border officials of ceding Cambodian territory, despite their dedicated, highly responsible efforts over many decades to protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and lawful territory. This is a grave and unacceptable accusation.
To demonstrate transparency, accountability, and responsibility to the public on behalf of the Royal Government and our technical border officials, as well as to offer Mr. Um Sam An and his group an opportunity to prove their genuine expertise and responsibility regarding their statements on border matters, I hereby extend the following opportunity to Mr. Um Sam An and his team:
- I invite Mr. Um Sam An and his team of border experts to bring all documents and evidence they possess regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border between Border Posts No. 52 and 59 to engage in a direct, transparent discussion with the border technical team of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs in Cambodia.
- At this stage, while negotiations and resolutions regarding border issues with Thailand remain ongoing, we cannot publicly release certain sensitive information on social media. Nevertheless, to ensure transparency, accountability, and responsibility during the debate, we will allow attendance from journalists, party representatives, civil society organizations, students, intellectuals, and the Cambodian public to a certain extent to serve as witnesses and to directly hear the truth concerning the public’s concerns.
- I guarantee the safety of Mr. Um Sam An and his team during their stay in Cambodia until their departure.
- If you lack the funds to purchase round-trip flight tickets to Cambodia, I will cover the cost for you.
- If you lack local transportation and accommodation, I will arrange them free of charge during your presence in Cambodia.
This is not an attempt to challenge or defeat Mr. Um Sam An and his group, but rather to show our transparency, accountability, correctness, and responsibility to the citizens concerning border affairs with Thailand—especially while the border demarcation process remains unfinished.
The Royal Government has nothing to hide and does not fear taking responsibility for its duties. The technical border team of the Royal Government stands ready to engage in a direct, candid discussion with Mr. Um Sam An and his team.
I strongly hope that Mr. Um Sam An and his group will not hesitate to accept my invitation to debate with the Royal Government’s technical border team (whom he accused of secretly ceding land to Thailand between Border Posts No. 52 and 59) in the presence of journalists, party representatives, civil society organizations, students, intellectuals, and the Cambodian public.
The public and I have seen that you frequently raise border topics everywhere. Therefore, you should not be afraid to engage in a discussion regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border between Border Posts No. 52 and 59 to demonstrate a concrete example of your capability, accuracy, and responsibility to the public. I hope you will not seek any other excuses to evade this invitation.
I reaffirm the guarantee of safety for you and your team during your stay in Cambodia until your complete departure. Thus, safety concerns should not serve as an obstacle preventing you from accepting my invitation.
This is a golden opportunity for Mr. Um Sam An to demonstrate his capability as a well-grounded and responsible border expert, rather than the Um Sam An who was previously convicted and imprisoned for spreading baseless border claims./.
