Publicly available imagery and footage indicate that a significant number of homes and structures in Chok Chey and Boeung Trarkuon villages in Banteay Meanchey province have been razed and cleared by Thai forces in the days and weeks after the 27 December ceasefire. The destruction of civilian homes during a conflict goes against the Geneva Conventions and international human rights law, regardless of which side of the contested border the houses stand.

Homes and structures have been razed in Thai-controlled areas of the two villages, based on publicly available satellite imagery from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites as well as images and footage published by media outlets.

The destruction is taking place in contested areas claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand, as well as on land that is recognised by both sides as Thailand and land that is recognised by both sides as Cambodia. Regardless of where the houses lie, their clearance post-ceasefire serves no legitimate military objective and appears to be in violation of international law.

The destruction of civilian property by occupying powers unless absolutely necessary for military operations is prohibited by Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. International human rights law also protects the right to adequate housing, and prohibits the arbitrary destruction of civilian houses and forced evictions regardless of land tenure or ownership status.

Thailand must immediately cease clearing homes and structures in these villages as the countries enter border demarcation negotiations in the coming weeks and months. The Thai government should consider steps to provide remedy and compensate affected individuals, families and communities for the extensive harms caused by the destruction of their homes and property. The Cambodian government must ensure that those who remain displaced have consistent access to an adequate standard of living, including adequate housing.

Chok Chey village

Chok Chey village has been settled and continuously occupied by Cambodian villagers for decades. Publicly available satellite imagery shows occupation dating to 2006, while villagers have reported living in the village since the 1990s. Both Thai and Cambodian authorities have provided maps indicating both countries’ claims.

According to Cambodian government data from 2019, Chok Chey village had 631 families and 2,586 residents. Following the December 2025 border conflict and 27 December ceasefire, media outlets posted images of shipping containers placed by Thai forces demarcating their area of control within Chok Chey. Satellite imagery indicates that the majority of the village’s houses, as well as the village's primary school, are located behind the new Thai border emplacements.

Map (Cambodian gov.)Map (Thai gov.)Location of barriers

A map produced by Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs showing Cambodian's claimed border (red), Thailand's claimed border (blue), and Thailand's alleged area of control as of 2 January 2026.

Thai government map showing Cambodia's border claim (red), Thailand's border claim (blue), and the area of the village claimed by Thailand (blue dotted-line).

Locations of shipping containers placed by Thailand to demarcate their area of control following the end of active fighting.

Satellite imagery indicates that there has been significant clearing of homes and structures in the Thai-controlled areas in the days and weeks following the 27 December ceasefire.

3 December 202528 December 202512 January 2026

Areas of the village have been cleared post-ceasefire (dotted line). Sentinel-2 (ESA) image courtesy of the Copernicus SciHub.

Areas of the village have been cleared post-ceasefire (dotted line). Sentinel-2 (ESA) image courtesy of the Copernicus SciHub.

Areas of the village have been cleared post-ceasefire (dotted line). Sentinel-2 (ESA) image courtesy of the Copernicus SciHub.

Boeung Trarkoun

The Boeung Trarkuon is a large settlement in Banteay Meanchey province. Most of the village is recognised by both countries as Cambodian territory, with a small portion of the village claimed by both countries. Video footage taken by journalists following the 27 December ceasefire indicates that Thailand has placed barbed wire and shipping containers demarcating areas of control within undisputed Cambodian territory, more than 900 meters east of the Thai-claimed border.

Map (Cambodian gov.)Location of barrier

A map produced by Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs showing Cambodia's border claim (red), Thailand's border claim (blue), and Thailand's alleged area of control as of 2 January 2026.

Location of shipping container and barbed wire placed by Thailand in a photograph taken 19 January.

This indicates that hundreds of homes, as well as public infrastructure including a health centre, are under Thai control. Satellite imagery indicates there has been significant clearing of homes and structures in these Thai-controlled areas in the days and weeks following the 27 December ceasefire.

3 December 202528 December 202517 January 2026

Areas of the village have been cleared post-ceasefire (dotted line). Sentinel-2 (ESA) image courtesy of the Copernicus SciHub.

Areas of the village have been cleared post-ceasefire (dotted line). Sentinel-2 (ESA) image courtesy of the Copernicus SciHub.

Areas of the village have been cleared post-ceasefire (dotted line). Sentinel-2 (ESA) image courtesy of the Copernicus SciHub.

Other areas of concern

Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province, another area where parts of a Cambodian-inhabited village are claimed by both countries, is another area of concern. Reports of residents being unable to access their homes raise concerns about the right to housing. LICADHO has been unable to confirm clearance of homes based on publicly available satellite imagery, but given the pattern of clearances in other villages in the province, there is concern that clearances have or will take place in this village.

We call on Thai authorities to immediately cease the clearance and razing of civilian homes and infrastructure in all villages along the border, regardless of which side of the contested border these homes fall. Civilian homes must not become targets or collateral damage in a border dispute, and remedy for the destruction of property must be considered. We also call on Cambodian authorities to ensure that villagers from these areas have adequate access to decent housing while they are displaced from their homes, in line with international human rights law.

Note: This article uses official borders and maps published by both Thai and Cambodian authorities. The use of both governments' officially published border claims does not constitute an endorsement of either side's claim.

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