General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, chief of the Malaysian Defense Forces, said he has proposed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim contact the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia for permission to allow Malaysian teams to enter the conflict zones in both countries, along with ASEAN Observer Teams (AOT). According to Malaysian new outlet Bernama, the AOT, established by ASEAN national defence representatives, will monitor the border and investigate violations. “This is a serious task because there is approximately 840 kilometres of border to be monitored,” said Mohd Nizam.He added that the mission will receive transportation support from…
Author: Raksmey Hong
The Malaysian Defence attaché to Cambodia led a seven-nation delegation to O’Bei Chon commune, in Banteay Meanchey province’s O’Chrov district, where they inspected barbed wire and tyre barricades that have been constructed by Thai soldiers inside Cambodian territory. “At 2.30pm on August 14, I accompanied the Interim Observer Team (IOT), led by Colonel Nazlee Bin Abdul Rahim, the Malaysian Military Attaché to Cambodia, which included representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam — both resident and non-resident attachés to Cambodia,” said Oum Reatrey, governor of Banteay Meanchey province. A Khmer language sign can be seen on the…
A new EUR 3.5 million ($4.09 million) EU–funded programme is set to strengthen transparency, accountability and civic engagement in Cambodia’s public financial management. Launched on August 13, the “Strengthening Civic Engagement and Oversight in Public Financial Management” (SCOPE-PFM) initiative will run from June 2025 to May 2028. Led by Oxfam, in partnership with the Advocacy and Policy Institute, NGO Forum and SILAKA, the project seeks to give Cambodians a greater voice in how public resources are managed. “Promoting transparency and accountability in budget management has been the focus of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, including participating in the Open…
Cambodia has rejected fresh allegations from Thailand that its forces planted new landmines along the border, calling the claims “unfounded and misleading” and accusing Bangkok of violating ceasefire agreements by sending troops into well-documented mine-contaminated areas. Government spokesperson Pen Bona on August 14 accused Thailand of using a recent landmine explosion to “portray itself as the victim and mislead the international community”, despite violating the current ceasefire agreement. Addressing a daily press briefing, Bona said Thai forces moved troops, laid barbed wire and mobilised weapons in disputed areas where landmines remain, actions he described as “irrefutable proof” of non-compliance. He…
Eighteen Cambodian government officials will soon depart for South Korea to take part in two specialised training programmes aimed at advancing the Kingdom’s efforts in sustainable waste management and wetland conservation. “Fifteen officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will join the ‘Capacity Building on Realising a Circular Economy through Sustainable Waste Management for Cambodia’ programme from August 17 to 30,” according to the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Cambodia Office. The course is designed to strengthen technical and policy capacity in managing waste more efficiently, reducing environmental impact and promoting resource reuse…
On August 13, Tep Asnarith, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, spoke with the National Radio of Cambodia. He highlighted how state and private media have demonstrated adaptability to technological changes. In this era of digital technology, media organisations have increasingly focused on promoting their content through platforms. “They must adapt to these technological advancements while continuing to preserve the legacy of Cambodia’s traditional media,” Asnarith said. As Cambodian officials continue to highlight the growing influence of digital media, TikTok has introduced a range of new features aimed at supporting the well-being of Cambodian families, bolstering protections for creators and…
The Cambodian ambassador to Japan has shared how Cambodians living in Japan rallied in a show of unity to support frontline soldiers and displaced civilians on August 3. They also called for Thailand to respect the July 28 ceasefire. Dozens of Cambodians from across Japan marched to the Thai embassy in Tokyo, calling for an end to the border dispute. The spontaneous protest, which was not organised by the Cambodian embassy in Japan, drew participants from all walks of life. “We did not expect the participation of so many Cambodians who were not announced by the embassy,” Cambodian ambassador to…
Nearly two-thirds of the Cambodian families displaced by the recent fighting along the Thai border are struggling with severe psychological distress, a new assessment has found. According to World Vision International in Cambodia, 66% of the displaced reported serious mental health symptoms following evacuation, witnessing bombings or shootings, and in some cases, losing relatives. The findings were based on a Psychological Safety Assessment conducted across 43 sanctuary centres in Preah Vihear (7), Banteay Meanchey (15) and Siem Reap provinces (21). “The study, carried out through individual interviews with 274 randomly selected people — including 158 women and 65 children —…
The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) issued an August 12 warning to the residents of northern border areas, noting that its operators have discovered multiple unexploded cluster munitions left behind from recent clashes with Thai forces. The statement explained that during the five-day border conflict, the Thai military fired 155mm artillery shells, each containing 56 M-46 cluster sub-munitions. Many of them failed to detonate on impact, posing an extreme danger to civilians. “These unexploded sub-munitions can be found hanging in trees, lodged on rooftops, scattered on the ground or even submerged in water. They can kill or maim if disturbed,”…
At the Phnom Thma Kambor sanctuary camp in Banteay Ampil district, thousands of displaced families wait anxiously for the sound of peace, not gunfire. Established as the first refuge for those fleeing the most dangerous border villages, the camp now shelters people from near Ta Mone and Ta Krabey temples, as well as Thma Daun. Many of them left their homes with nothing but the shirts on their backs. Met Measpheakdey, spokesperson for the Oddar Meanchey provincial administration, explained that the province was continuing diplomatic outreach and appeals to the international community. On a recent visit, nearly 100 representatives from…