Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered authorities to publicize the map used by the country in demarcating its border with Vietnam at the meeting of his Cabinet on Friday.

According to Government Spokesman Phay Siphan, the prime minister also said that all documents related to the map have been ratified by the King and the Cambodian National Assembly, and serve as historical evidence in scientific research on the national territory, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

These documents prove transparency and sense of responsibility of the Cambodian People’s Party in protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, PM Hun Sen stressed.

The PM’s decision came after a statement was posted on media on Wednesday by Um Sam An of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), declaring he found a Bonne map which was submitted to the United Nations (UN) on October 4, 1954.

Um Sam An said this was the map stated in Cambodia’s Constitution, and it was necessary to review border markers between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Also on Friday, the Cambodian government announced its consideration in applying strict legal measures against lawmaker Um Sam An due to his statements.

Um Sam An’s actions have caused misunderstanding on national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and social unrest, Cambodia’s media quoted a statement of the Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit (OMCM) as saying.

Um Sam An, with dual citizenships of U.S. and Cambodia, left Cambodia for the U.S. in August and is expected to return Cambodia in early 2016.

source: http://tuoitrenews.vn/politics/30921/cambodia-publicizes-map-used-in-demarcation-of-border-with-vietnam

Having a map ratified by the King of Cambodia and the Cambodian National Assembly does not have any relevance as historical evidence in scientific research. The map is backed by political expediency and its usefulness relative to international law will be debatable.