SURIN, Thailand – The Governor of Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia, led Major General Nheak Vong, commander of the 42nd Infantry Brigade and the central figure in the recent border dispute, to meet and shake hands with Thai military officers at the Ta Muen Thom temple in Thailand. The move, believed to be ordered by senior officials, aimed to ease tensions after an incident where Cambodian military personnel and their spouses attempted to sing Cambodia’s national anthem at the Thai-controlled site. Meanwhile, social media in Cambodia erupted in support of Maj. Gen. Nheak Vong, portraying him as a hero for standing up to the Thai military.
On February 19, reports emerged from the Thai-Cambodian border at Ta Muen Thom temple, Nong Kanna Village, Ta Mieng Subdistrict, Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province. The tensions originated when Maj. Gen. Nheak Vong led 25 Cambodian military spouses in singing Cambodia’s national anthem at the temple, prompting intervention from Thai soldiers. The Cambodian general reacted defiantly, challenging the Thai forces.
In an effort to de-escalate the situation, Governor Men Chanyada of Oddar Meanchey accompanied Maj. Gen. Nheak Vong and other Cambodian officials to Ta Muen Thom on February 18, for talks with Lt. Col. Jakkrit Piyasupharuk, commander of Thailand’s 4th Infantry Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. The two sides exchanged handshakes and took photos in front of the temple, helping to reduce border tensions.
Governor Men Chanyada reassured Thai officials, stating, “We must talk when issues arise. No one is trying to take or encroach upon anything. We must live together in harmony and leave border matters to the appropriate international committees. The situation at Ta Muen Thom remains normal, with good relations between both countries.”
Despite this diplomatic effort, both Thai and Cambodian troops continue to maintain a strong presence in the area to uphold their respective sovereignties. The temple remains open to tourists from both nations.
Meanwhile, Cambodian social media platforms, particularly the Facebook page “Oddar Meanchey,” circulated videos and images of Maj. Gen. Nheak Vong, depicting him as a national hero for confronting the Thai military. One viral video from October 5, 2024, showed Cambodian students, monks, and soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Nheak Vong, visiting Ta Muen Thom and singing patriotic songs. These clips, widely shared by Cambodian netizens, amassed tens of thousands to millions of views, with many users praising the general’s actions.
In response, Thai social media users engaged in heated online debates with their Cambodian counterparts, exchanging critical comments over the border issue.
Thai military sources revealed that Thailand’s 2nd Army Region had previously lodged a protest with Cambodia’s 4th Military Region Command on October 18, 2024, following the initial incident involving Cambodian students and monks at Ta Muen Thom.
Analysts suggest that Governor Men Chanyada and Maj. Gen. Nheak Vong’s visit was likely instructed by higher-ranking Cambodian authorities to engage in diplomatic discussions with Thailand, whether voluntarily or under obligation, in an effort to preserve bilateral relations amid growing tensions.
