I write these words not only as a Cambodian, but as a human being — a citizen of the world — appealing to the consciences of leaders, the media and people everywhere. For more than five centuries, Cambodia has lived in the shadows of invasion, interference and war. We have been attacked, divided, colonised and in modern times, torn apart by a civil war that lasted over 50 years. We are a people who have suffered enough. We are tired of war. We fear war. And above all, we reject war. Cambodia has never harboured dreams of conquering our neighbours…
Author: Guest Writer
Following days of violent clashes and violation of the ceasefire agreement, the inner nationalism of Cambodians was ignited to stand for the truth and show the world the true meaning of the phrase “Khmer Love Khmer.” The emotional weight of the conflict is further heightened by the fact that 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during the clashes have yet to be released even after the ceasefire agreement and the extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting. As a legally bound member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Cambodia continues to maintain formal trade relations with Thailand. However, a current boycott reflects people-driven…
The recent five-day military clash between Cambodia and Thailand left dozens of soldiers injured or killed and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced before ASEAN chair Malaysia, with support from the US and China, stepped in to mediate a temporary ceasefire. Now that the guns have fallen silent, Thailand’s behaviour reveals that the crisis is far from over and Cambodia needs to prepare for what may come next. At the heart of the conflict is a disagreement over territorial claims on the Preah Vihear Temple. Although the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cambodia in 1962, Thailand still…
History, culture and tenacity abound in Cambodia. One thing is evident throughout Cambodia’s lengthy and complicated history, from the splendours of the Angkor Empire to facing the challenges of more recent decades: unity is what makes the country strong. A peaceful and prosperous future for the nation may be built on this unity — among its many peoples, localities and generations. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and a difficult international political landscape characterised by increased trade protectionism and economic uncertainty, Cambodia has faced numerous serious obstacles in recent years. These challenges have been made worse by the return of great-power competition…
I support the idea that Cambodia should sue the Thai general who at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the damages caused by the recent Thai invasion which he commanded. This is because Cambodia should not restrain itself from pursuing lawful and peaceful avenues of redress, which are always preferable to war. Cambodia must single out Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, the Commander of Thailand’s Second Army Region, who was in charge of recent border operations with Cambodia. Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. It is considered a crime under international law…
The ink on the Cambodia–Thailand ceasefire agreement is barely dry, yet the words of Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, Commander of Thailand’s Second Army Region, have already cast a long shadow over it. Today, August 10, he vowed to “reclaim” Ta Krabey Temple for Thailand and suggested closing Ta Mone Thom Temple — both located inside Cambodian territory. This is not mere military bravado; it is an open declaration of intent to violate an agreement his country signed only days ago. Such rhetoric undermines the principles of peaceful coexistence and risks plunging the border back into conflict. Cambodia has shown restraint…
To the Thai people, In the name of the Khmer people, I am personally addressing this letter to admonish you and remind you that your extremist military appear to be ignorant of their own history. The military leadership neither understand their own history, nor that of the neighbouring Kingdom, Cambodia. They are led by the nose to follow the ambitions of their leaders, whether through committing acts of foul play or by slandering the prestige of Cambodia. Unfortunately for such leaders — and their unfortunate followers — the world sees their true colours. Your country claimed to believe in…
Dear spokesperson of the Thai defence ministry, My name is So Farina. I am a second-generation Cambodian born after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge and currently serve as a senior researcher at the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) and the Queen Mother Library. I am writing in response to your message quoted in The Nation Thailand, titled “From Survivors… to Those Who Turned Their Guns Back When Cambodians Forgot Everything Thailand Once Gave”, published on August 4, 2025. First of all, I assure you that we, the Cambodian people, have not forgotten what happened during and after the Khmer…
It’s not every day that a former Miss Thailand is tasked with defending a nation’s territorial claims. But here we are — Thailand has decided that in the context of a complex, decades-old border dispute, the best weapon in its arsenal is a “volunteer spokesperson” with a crown in her résumé. While some might almost applaud the creativity, most would perceive Thailand’s move like a gimmick. After all, if the facts aren’t on your side, why not change the lighting, add a glamorous smile and call it a “public communication strategy”? But here’s the inconvenient truth for Bangkok: Cambodia was…
US President Donal Trump’s role in bringing an end to the five-day conflict between Cambodia and Thailand took many by surprise, not only for his immediate success in defusing the tensions, but also for its unexpected diplomatic ripple effect. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet recently nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize, which reflected more than gratitude. It also signalled Cambodia’s willingness to reengage with Washington after years of a weakening relationship. Longstanding territorial disputes between the two neighbouring kingdoms rose once again earlier this year, triggering last month’s deadly military confrontation. Trump’s intervention through direct communication and swift mediation was…