Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson said Thai forces continued their reckless aggression against Cambodian territory, expanding it toward Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Pursat and Banteay Meanchey provinces. She said they were brutally shelling Cambodian territory with heavy weapons, showing no concern for the destruction of public infrastructure or the safety of civilians.
Maly Socheata, spokesperson for Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense, said at an 11 a.m. press conference on July 26 that Thai forces had begun attacks on Cambodian territory at 5 a.m., including at ចាក់ច្រែង, វាលឥន្រ្ទី, តាថាវ, ភ្នំខ្មោច, ជាំតែ and អានសេះ. In the third sector, she said, there had been no noteworthy developments, with Cambodian forces holding their positions firmly to defend Cambodia’s sovereignty.
According to Maly Socheata, the new direction in which Thailand had expanded its aggression was Pursat Province, beginning at 5:02 a.m. on July 26, when the Thai side opened fire on Cambodia first. She said Thai forces were still shelling and invading Cambodian territory as of the time of her statement.
In Banteay Meanchey Province, no armed exchange had yet occurred, but Thai troops were applying pressure and threatening Cambodian forces. They demanded that Cambodian forces leave Cambodian territory and threatened to fire on them if they did not leave. According to the spokesperson’s account, this also violated Article 5 of the 2000 MoU.
By: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
