The US is pushing for an immediate ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia and wants to see a sustainable peace between the two nations. The commitment was shared during a phone call between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, on December 25. Manet stated that he and Rubio discussed the latest developments along the Cambodia–Thailand border and ways to secure a ceasefire and to continue with the implementation of an agreement to achieve lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand. “Secretary Rubio stated that the US wants to see a sustainable peace between Cambodian and Thailand and…
Author: Niem Chheng
As fighting continues on the Cambodia-Thailand border, with Thai airstrikes deep inside Cambodian territory, Oxfam has issued an urgent call for an immediate ceasefire and the full protection of civilians affected by the escalating hostilities. “The violence is causing unacceptable harm, driving mass displacement and cutting off access to food, health care, education and livelihoods,” said Oxfam, in a statement released on Christmas Day, December 25. As of today, more than 630,000 people have fled their homes and are now living in fear in sanctuaries amid airstrikes, bombardments, toxic smoke and surveillance drones. Many of them women and children. The…
This morning, the Thai military fired 33 artillery shells into Ta Lei village, killing one civilian and injuring seven others, even as a meeting of the Secretariat of the General Border Committees (GBC) of Cambodia and Thailand began taking place at the Prum border checkpoint. According to the Ministry of National Defence, shelling hit Ta Lei village, Kouk Romiet commune, Thma Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, from 7am until just before 11am. The Thai military fired 33 rounds of 155mm artillery, destroying and devastating the homes of Cambodian civilians in a manner described as “most brutal and inhumane”. The shelling…
The French embassy in Cambodia has updated its travel advisory for Cambodia, adding a narrow “orange band” where travel should be limited, to the existing “red” warning against travel to all locations within 50 kilometres of the Thai border. “Do not travel within 50km of the border” remains the standard warning issued by most Western governments, including the US, UK, Australia and South Aftrica. On December 24, the French embassy noted that ground fighting is taking place between armed forces all along the border, but warned of sporadic airstrikes in a wider area. “Consequently, travel is dangerous and strongly discouraged…
The destruction of a statue of a Hindu deity by the Thai military has angered many people from the Hindu-majority India. Among them is former MP Vijayasai Reddy, who could not remain calm. A widely shared video clip showed heavy machinery destroying the statue, reportedly in the An Ses area in Preah Vihear province, on December 22. The statue was reportedly built more than a decade ago. “Destroying a Hindu deity’s statue under the pretext of a border dispute is unacceptable. Whether placed by Cambodia or not, attacking faith and heritage only exposes intolerance. Both Thailand and Cambodia are Buddhist…
The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) will submit additional petitions to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant parties asking them to condemn, apply pressure and take measures regarding Thailand’s violations against Cambodia, including the use of F-16 and T-50TH aircraft to attack civilian areas. The committee strongly condemned the continued “brutal attacks” by Thailand involving the use of heavy weaponry, F-16 and T-50TH fighter jets, warships, toxic smoke and cluster munitions on locations inhabited by civilians in Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Oddar Meanchey, Battambang, Preah Vihear and Koh Kong provinces, according to a statement released today, December…
The Royal Thai Air Force deployed the T-50TH Golden Eagle advanced trainer aircraft in a live combat mission deep inside Battambang province, dropping four bombs this morning, December 24. At 10am this morning, they struck a village in Banan district, according to the Ministry of National Defence. The South Korean-made jets have now joined the US-made F-16 and Swedish Gripen as examples of Thai aircraft which have bombed hotels, bridges and schools in Cambodia since the current fighting broke out on December 7. According to a December 22 report by Defence Security Asia, Air Chief Marshal Praphas S, deputy commander-in-chief…
Cambodia’s sole goal in attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on December 22 was to end the suffering of the people and stop the fighting that has destroyed their property, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn. Speaking to the national television (TVK) network on December 22 upon returning from the ASEAN ministers’ meeting, Sokhonn explained that he has raised three points that Cambodia wanted. “I called for an immediate ceasefire and an immediate cessation of hostilities, and I stated that if there was such an agreement, I emphasized that both sides should agree to begin stopping…
The Cambodian mine authority has condemned Thailand’s continued military aggression and the dissemination of false information aimed at concealing its illegal military actions. A December 23 statement form the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) noted that the Thai military has dropped bombs in civilian areas and used illegal weapons against Cambodia, violating Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with military force, including the use of F-16 fighter jets to drop bombs. It said such actions have resulted in civilian casualties and the large-scale displacement of innocent civilians, as well as the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, pagodas and…
The Thai military has continued to shell Cambodia with cluster munitions, with the latest attacks occurring on December 23 and yesterday, according to Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC). “On December 22-23, 2025, Thai soldiers continued to fire M46 cluster bombs via 155mm artillery shells into the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia,” he said, via social media. “This is a serious violation of the international Oslo Convention banning the use of cluster bombs, in addition to targeting residential areas, which further violates several international laws,” he added. Ratana posted the message alongside an image…