Cambodia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to safeguarding the humanitarian integrity of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, while continuing to position itself as a key advocate for the Convention’s humanitarian principles on the international stage. Ly Tuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), announced that he held an online meeting today with Eunice M. Tembo Luambia, ambassador and permanent representative of Zambia to the UN in Geneva and president of the 23rd Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, together with the Convention’s Implementation Support Unit (ISU).…
Author: Raksmey Hong
The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has warned of the continued danger posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs), urging residents who are returning to their homes near the border to exercise extreme caution and to report any suspected explosive devices immediately to CMAC or local authorities. CMAC director-general Heng Ratana said remnants of war continue to pose a serious threat, not only causing deaths and injuries but also endangering land, forests and community safety over the long term. “People must avoid touching or picking up any objects suspected to be mines or unexploded ordnance,” he said. “Such actions can…
Thailand’s insistence that it is strictly complying with the December 27 ceasefire agreement with Cambodia has drawn growing scrutiny, as conditions on the ground along the border tell a markedly different story. In a January 12 statement, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected what it called “baseless allegations” that Thai forces are illegally occupying Cambodian territory, arguing that the maintenance of current troop positions after the ceasefire constitutes compliance with agreed de-escalation measures. “Thailand, therefore, wishes to register its strong protest against Cambodia’s baseless allegations claiming Thailand is illegally occupying and conducting military operations across various areas in Cambodian territory…
Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts released a detailed assessment of the extensive damage inflicted on Preah Vihear Temple today, January 12. Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was struck by artillery and aerial attacks. The ministry has formally submitted its findings to UNESCO and the international community. In a press release issued today, the ministry explained that damage to the temple complex and surrounding areas was recorded following military hostilities from July 24–28 and again from December 7–27, 2025. The assessments were conducted by the National Authority for Preah Vihear and supported by video, photographic evidence, and…
Leaders from Cambodia’s three major religious communities have called on the public to sharply reduce plastic use, warning that environmental degradation driven by plastic waste is not only damaging nature but reflects a deeper moral and social failure. The message was delivered during an January 10 interfaith forum at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, where representatives of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam spoke to more than 200 participants about the role of faith in protecting the environment. The event, titled “Interfaith Voices for a Clean Environment: Say ‘No’ to Plastic,” was organised by the Youth Committee of the Cambodian Buddhist Association…
As fighting raged along Cambodia’s northern and western borders, Cambodian journalists moved toward the front lines, not away from them, risking their lives to document civilian suffering and counter what officials describe as a parallel war of disinformation. Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra said national and international reporters were deployed directly to Oddar Meanchey, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces — areas hit by heavy shelling and bombings during what has been described as a 21-day war of aggression by Thai military forces. “Cameras and pens are powerful weapons on the information battlefield,” Pheaktra said. “Under the leadership and coordination of…
Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol has called for calm and restraint to preserve a fragile ceasefire with Thailand amid ongoing border tensions, urging both governments to “lower the temperature” and resolve disputes through established bilateral mechanisms rather than force. In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg in Phnom Penh, Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) reiterated that Cambodia remains committed to a peaceful resolution and warned that renewed conflict would undermine not only bilateral relations but also the credibility of ASEAN. “The ceasefire is still fragile, but I want to reassure you that peace is…
Poipet city, a bustling commercial hub on Cambodia’s northwestern frontier, continues to operate at near-normal levels despite the unilateral closure of the Thai border and recent armed aggression by Thai forces that has unsettled surrounding areas. Home to residents from 69 nationalities and long considered a second home by many Thais, the city’s civilian economy has remained resilient, even as cross-border movement is disrupted and the security situation remains fragile. “Poipet is a large commercial centre, with many nationalities living here, working and doing business here,” said Pankhem Bunthan, deputy director of the Prime Minister’s Office and deputy chairman of…
In Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages along Cambodia’s north-western border, the marks of the December 7-27 fighting are visible in damaged homes, abandoned fields and wandering livestock. But residents say the deeper impact came when parts of their villages were entered and occupied by Thai soldiers, leaving civilians trapped in fear, displacement and uncertainty. On the ground, dozens of houses have been left heavily damaged, with corrugated metal roofs torn apart and wooden supports collapsed – rendering the structures partially flattened and uninhabitable. Sheets of roofing lie twisted across the ground, while broken beams and debris are scattered throughout…
Despite the ceasefire, local authorities say Thai troops have continued to erect razor wire and position shipping containers inside Cambodian territory, approximately one kilometre from the Boeung Trakuon border crossing. The affected area includes four villages in Kork Romiet commune—Phlov Bambek, Samakki, Banteay Meanrith and Trapaing Samraong—which officials say have been encroached upon and illegally occupied by Thai forces. According to the Thma Puok District Administration, Samakki village alone saw 72 hectares affected, including 60 hectares of residential land and 10 hectares of agricultural land. Banteay Meanrith village lost 52 hectares, while Trapaing Samraong village saw over 60 hectares impacted.…