Cambodia has welcomed the return of three Khmer sculptures from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in the US, with the culture minister describing the museum as a “role model” for other collectors and museums which hold Khmer artefacts. The three pieces include the Head of Harihara (10th century), a Female Deity (the Goddess Uma, 10th century) and Prajnaparamita (late 12th century). In a December 16 press release, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts explained that the return followed several years of discussions between the Smithsonian and a ministry restitution team. The decision to return the pieces was…
Author: Niem Chheng
Senate president Hun Sen has responded to accusations from the Thai military and media that Russian mercenaries may have been hired to serve on the battlefield at the border. He stated that there have been no foreign troops on Cambodian soil since 1993. His response came after the Thai 2nd Army Region reported suspicions that Cambodia had hired English-speaking foreigners to operate drones. This suspicion was widely published by Thai media, with many speculating that the foreigners were likely Russian mercenaries. “In order to maintain the dignity of Cambodia, as well as that of Russia and other foreign nations that…
Cambodia demining authorities have described the impact of Thai cluster munitions on the Kingdom’s civilian population, ahead of the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The meeting will take place in Vientiane, Laos, next year. It will be chaired by Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos. In a December 15 letter to Thongsavanh, Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first-vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said that there are serious humanitarian and legal concerns arising from the recent military actions of Thailand against Cambodia, during which cluster munitions were employed in…
Cambodia’s representative to the UN in New York addressed a UN Peacebuilding Commission meeting regarding Thailand’s aggression and its rejection of dialogue, noting that Thailand has instead turned to using military force to violate Cambodian sovereignty. On December 15, Keo Chhea, ambassador and permanent representative of Cambodia to the UN, delivered a statement at the UN Peacebuilding Commission meeting on the “Peaceful Settlement of Border Disputes in Central Asia”, at the UN Headquarters in New York. “The settlement of border disputes must be done peacefully through dialogue, not by military force,” he said. During the meeting, he informed the UN…
The president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham) has published an open letter to the US embassy expressing urgent concern regarding Thai military statements that Thailand may designate Cambodian ports “high risk” and blockade shipments of fuel and other goods. In a December 15 letter, addressed to Bridgette Walker, chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, Casey Barnett, AmCham president, requested that the embassy convey the concerns of American businesses to the US government, as well as the Thai leadership. According to Barnett, there are approximately 865 American-owned businesses registered in Cambodia, and hundreds more…
Cambodia has issued strong condemnations as the Thai military continues to carry out armed aggression against Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with more bombs dropped and “toxic smoke” fired on Cambodian territory. At 10.08am and 10.11am this morning, December 15, the Thai military used F-16 fighter jets to drop two bombs in Chong Kal District and Srei Snam District, in Siem Reap province, near refugee camps, more than 70 kilometres into Cambodian territory. “This constitutes an act of aggression by the Thai military, deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Thailand has violated international law by attacking civilians,” said Minister of…
The number of civilians killed by Thai attacks has risen to 12 after another citizen was killed on December 14, and the number of injured has reached at least 75, including 15 new injuries as of 6pm. Concurrently, the number of displaced peoples has increased to over 400,000. According to the Ministry of Interior, approximately 208,000 of the refugees are women and about 96,000 are children. From December 7 to 14, Thai attacks have destroyed 36 civilian homes, 1 school, 4 ancient temples, 1 charity hall, 1 monastery in a pagoda, 1 customs and excise office building, 4 casino buildings,…
Senate president Hun Sen has clarified that Cambodia is not restricting Thai citizens from returning to their homeland, as they can travel by plane. Cambodia has closed land borders due to Thai attacks. A statement he posted this evening, December 14, was widely seen as a response to Thai accusations that Cambodia is using its citizens as human shields or hostages. “Yesterday, I posted a message advising the Royal Government that the movement of Cambodian and Thai people across land borders should be suspended to ensure the safety of both Cambodian and Thai citizens. There may have been a misunderstanding…
Thai caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has published private correspondence from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and rejected the latter’s proposal for a 10pm ceasefire last night. In a Facebook post this afternoon, December 14, Anutin posted a copy of a note from Anwar which read: “My statement did not mention a ceasefire. I merely said – my suggestion to cease any provocations from 10 pm. I didn’t say that both parties have agreed”. “This clearly proves that there was no plan nor agreement by the Thai Government to halt combat operations with our enemy as of 10pm last night.…
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, acting ASEAN chair, has called for both Thailand and Cambodia to cease all fighting and weapon deployments from 10pm tonight and the deployment of ASEAN Observation Team (AOT), supported by satellite. Prime Minister Hun Manet has shared his support for both suggestions. In a social media post a short while ago, Anwar said that after discussing the conflict with US President Donald Trump, he held separate calls with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand and Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia. During the exchanges, he conveyed Malaysia’s deep concern over the situation. “I have urged…