Cambodia's billiard association has become the first sports body to boycott the SEA Games in Thailand, citing safety concerns and the moral implications of competing while border tensions with Thailand persist.
The Cambodia Billiard Sports Federation (CBSF) announced on Tuesday that it will not send athletes or officials to the 33rd SEA Games, which Thailand is set to host from Deccember 9 through 20 across Bangkok, Chon Buri and Songkhla.
In an official statement, posted on its Facebook page and dated November 18, the federation said it had unanimously agreed to withdraw from the regional event due to “serious safety and security concerns” stemming from unresolved tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border.
“The current circumstances between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand do not yet provide sufficient conditions to guarantee the safety of the Cambodian sports delegation,” the CBSF said. It cited the ongoing border dispute, the closure of several crossings and “cases of insecurity” as factors that “cause great concern for the well-being and security of our delegation.”
The federation also argued that participating in the Games would be inappropriate while Cambodian citizens continue to suffer from the effects of the prolonged border conflict.
“As representatives of the Cambodian nation and people, participating in the competition while some Cambodian citizens are suffering pain and loss of life due to activities along the border is morally and nationally unacceptable,” the statement continued.
The document, signed by CBSF president Chum Kosal, added that any Cambodian athlete or official who chooses to participate independently would not be recognised as part of the official delegation. The federation said it would not be “responsible or aware of their safety or activities.”
Cambodia’s SEA Games organising committee has recently announced that Cambodia will send a delegation of more than 400 members to compete in the biennial event.
