Even Thailand's Own Map Shows Khnar Temple Belongs to Cambodia: Senior Official

PHNOM PENH, June 29, 2026 – A senior Cambodian border official has pointed to Thailand's own unilaterally drawn map as evidence that Khnar Temple is located within Cambodian territory, challenging Bangkok's border claims.

H.E. Ith Sotha, Permanent Secretary of State at the State Secretariat of Border Affairs, said that Thailand's 1:500,000-scale map, which Bangkok has consistently used for its unilateral boundary claims, actually supports Cambodia's position. The map, known as Sheet No. 5637 I, Series L7017, clearly shows Khnar Temple, Ta Mone Thom Temple, and several other temples along the border as located within Cambodian territory.

The official explained that the Cambodia-Thailand border was established in the early 20th century through boundary delimitation and the placement of 74 boundary markers, based on conventions, treaties, and physical demarcation carried out by French and Siamese authorities. Citing the official 1:200,000-scale map produced by the Franco-Indochina-Siam Boundary Delimitation Commission, H.E. Ith Sotha demonstrated that Khnar Temple lies clearly on the Cambodian side of the boundary.

He also showed that satellite imagery confirms the temple's location on the Cambodian side. The original boundary marker No. 20 has been displaced, and its current location remains unknown, but Cambodia's position is based on the red boundary line transferred from the official 1:200,000-scale map.

H.E. Ith Sotha further noted that regardless of the L7017 map or any other maps Thailand has produced or drawn unilaterally, those maps have no legal validity or legal effect. He also raised concerns that the Thai military is attempting to draw a new boundary line to incorporate areas Thailand has illegally occupied.

— Source: State Secretariat of Border Affairs/ PR Cambodian Government

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Reported by The Khmer Today