The Khmer Movement for Democracy (KMD) acknowledges and welcomes the official visit of Prime Minister Hun Manet to the French Republic to participate in the United Nations Ocean Conference, a globally significant event addressing climate change, ocean protection, and sustainable development. We commend Cambodia’s participation in this critical forum and encourage continued engagement in multilateral efforts to protect our oceans and secure a sustainable future.

However, we stress that this visit must go beyond symbolic diplomacy. As Prime Minister and head of government, Hun Manet bears direct responsibility to use this opportunity to serve Cambodia’s core national interests, particularly in relation to unresolved territorial disputes with Thailand.

We urge Prime Minister Hun Manet to take concrete action by initiating official discussions with the French leadership on France’s technical and historical support. France must be asked to provide expert assistance and authenticated colonial-era maps to aid Cambodia’s efforts in resolving disputes over key areas such as Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Toch Temple, Ta Krabei Temple, the Emerald Triangle (Mum Bei), and the territory surrounding Preah Vihear Temple.

Given France’s historical role as a co-signatory of the Franco-Siamese treaties, it is incumbent upon Prime Minister Hun Manet to press for French cooperation in clarifying borders and reinforcing Cambodia’s legal position through access to original documentation and expert interpretation.

In addition, Prime Minister Hun Manet must actively seek French technical and legal assistance to advance Cambodia’s ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He must also request access to relevant French maps and legal documents concerning Koh Kut and the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand, both of which are critical to Cambodia’s maritime sovereignty.

Finally, we urge Prime Minister Hun Manet to demonstrate leadership and accountability by committing to peaceful, rules-based solutions. He must ensure that all maritime and land disputes are brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — the most credible international forum for resolving such issues based on law, evidence, and treaty obligations.

This moment demands leadership, not rhetoric. Prime Minister Hun Manet must act decisively to protect Cambodia’s sovereignty, uphold international law, and secure peaceful relations in the region. His visit to France must not end with environmental diplomacy alone, but with tangible progress toward territorial clarity, legal justice, and regional peace.

KMD  remains committed to a vision of a peaceful, sovereign, and law-abiding Cambodia, engaged constructively with its neighbors and the international community. We call on Prime Minister Hun Manet to rise to this responsibility — and to act in the nation’s best interest.