Cambodia has lost over 1,000 square kilometers to Vietnam within the past 30 years, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said in a statement issued Thursday.  

Sam Rainsy also criticized Prime Minister Hun Sen’s foreign policy in handling border issues with its neighbouring countries, in which he said the premier tends to focus more on Thailand and neglect Vietnam.

“Vietnam has been, over the last 30 years, grabbing thousands of square kilometres of Khmer territories in Kep, Kampot, Takeo, Kandal, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Mondolkiri and Ratanakiri provinces,” the statement asserted.  

“This is an ongoing painful process that Mr. Hun Sen does not want us to look at,” it added.

Sam Rainsy is now in Europe mobilizing support after Cambodia’s National Assembly lift his immunity earlier this week to pave the way for court investigation into his involvement in uprooting six wooden demarcation posts in the eastern province of Svay Rieng last month.

Rong Chhun, president of Cambodia Teacher Association, alleged that Cambodia receives pressure from Vietnam on border issue.  

Head of the government Border Committee Var Kim Hong, however, said that the accusation is baseless and exaggerated.

“I wonder where Sam Rainsy got this information from. Cambodia never loses such a whole lot of land to Vietname,” he said.