The lingering impacts of Thailand’s use of cluster munitions during the July 24-28 border conflict was tragically underlined yesterday, October 25, when ten-year-old Soeun Sovann was killed by an explosion. His father, Soeun Sun, was seriously injured in the incident, which took place in Preah Vihear province’s Village 8, in Choam Ksant district’s Sra Em commune. Sun is receiving treatment at the January 16 Hospital in Preah Vihear province, according to the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA). It was not immediately clear whether the cluster munition had fallen near the family’s home, or if it had been…
Author: Niem Chheng
A much-awaited peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand was officially signed today, October 26, in Malaysia, marking a major step towards de-escalation after the recent deadly border clashes. The historic agreement was witnessed by US President Donald Trump and ASEAN chairman Anwar Ibrahim, who holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship for 2025. The accord was formally inked at midday by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart, Anutin Charnvirakul, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. “We are signing the Kulua Lumpur Accords, it’s a good name,” said Trump. He also announced that the deal will lead to the…
A South Korean parliamentary delegation has acknowledged the efforts of Cambodian authorities and relevant parties in combating technology-based fraud in Cambodia during an inspection of sites linked to online scams. Led by Kim Seok-ki, a Member of Parliament for Foreign Affairs and National Unification, the delegation inspected the compound of the Sopheakmith Residence company, located in Trapeang Khpos village, Lumphong commune, Bati district, Takeo province, on the afternoon of October 23. The site was previously raided by Cambodian law enforcement agencies in an anti-scam operation which saw more than 60 Korean nationals detained. They were subsequently deported home, where the…
The Cambodian government has reiterated its commitment to fighting and suppressing all forms of transnational crime, including cyber fraud, human trafficking and other cybercrimes, and urged closer cooperation from the international community. An October 23 statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation highlighted the complexity of challenges related to online scams, which transcend borders through modern technology, encrypted messages, digital currencies and cross-border labour recruitment systems. It explained that this complexity makes it difficult to distinguish between victims and perpetrators, even though many individuals involved in scam operations are victims of trafficking and coercion. It noted that…
Cambodia and Thailand declared that they made positive progress on de-escalating the border conflict during the second Special Thailand-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, held today, October 23, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting came just days before the much-anticipated October 26 signing of a peace agreement, which will be witnessed by US President Donald Trump. Minister of National Defence Tea Seiha and his Thai counterpart Nattaphon Narkphanit co-chaired the meeting, which was observed by the representatives from Malaysia, the US and members of the ASEAN Interim Observer Teams (IOT) in Cambodia and Thailand. According to a joint press statement…
Public health NGO the Cambodia Movement for Health (CHM) has expressed its support for a newly issued government order which aims to crack down on the sale and use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) such as vapes. The NGO reported that as of mid-October, it had recorded at least 688 social media accounts which were promoting or selling e-cigarettes and vapes. They were promoted on Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and Instagram pages. It also noted that some of these groups and pages were old and had been inactive for a while, but recently resumed activity, while others are newly created. Mom…
Following the conclusion of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) meetings, today, October 23, Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated that there would be no clandestine cession of Cambodian land in exchange for peace negotiations. Via social media, Manet affirmed Cambodia’s stance on the fate of Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages, where Thai forces have erected razor wire barricades around at least 12 Cambodian homes, cleared landmines, bulldozed land and demolished at least one of the enclosed houses. He stated that the progress towards resolving the issues in these two villages is now clearer…
Three Indonesian men have been placed in pre-trial detention at Prey Sar Prison for their role in an online scam operation. The three suspects, identified as Kristoforus Muda Soge, Herla and Yossa Fathur Riziq, have been charged under Articles 377 and 380 of the Criminal Code, according to detention warrants issued by Phnom Penh Municipal Court Investigating Judge Thon Darith. According to authorities, the three defendants were among 17 foreign nationals, including 14 Vietnamese, who were apprehended by authorities during a raid on a suspected scam center at the Ocean Hotel, in Phnom Penh’s Tonle Bassac commune, Chamkarmon district, on…
It was around 2am on July 26 when Sun Leung heard the sound of her husband’s voice for the last time. A soldier based at Phnom Troap, near Preah Vihear Temple, Pich Ngorl’s commander allowed him to spend his nights at home caring for Leung and their new-born baby. He would return to his post at 6am each morning and complete his duties before coming home to his family. That all changed on July 24, the day the Thai military launched incursions across the border. Ngorl had barely rejoined his unit, the 382nd Battalion of the 8th Brigade, when heavy…
A South Korean parliamentarian delegation, led by opposition MP Kim Seok-ki, observed a raid on a suspected online scam centre in Phnom Penh yesterday in which a large number of foreigners, most of them Korean, were discovered. The Korean MPs were given the opportunity to assess the situation and the evidence seized, and informed that the South Koreans appeared to be working of their own volition. The October 22 raid, in Preypopel village of the capital’s Samrong Krom commune, in Por Senchey district, saw 86 foreign nationals, including 5 women. 57 South Koreans and 29 Chinese were taken into custody.…