A prominent Cambodian media expert has urged global news consumers to approach reports on the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict with caution, noting that many major international media outlets maintain bureaus in Bangkok, where Thai media are waging a very effective “media war”. Speaking to The Post on the sidelines of the Phnom Penh Forum on October 8, Puy Kea, president of the Club of Cambodian Journalists and a correspondent with decades of experience, explained that global news outlets often publish stories directly from Bangkok without further verification. “In Cambodia, major news companies only have representative staff, if any. If they have…
Author: Niem Chheng
Prime Minister Hun Manet has clarified Cambodia’s position regarding future meetings with Thailand under the framework of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC). He noted that a meeting scheduled for last month was postponed as the Thai side had not confirmed their attendance. In a social media post, today, October 8, Manet explained that Cambodia is still waiting for Thailand to confirm the composition of the new meeting. “Cambodia hopes there will be a JBC meeting in the near future to resolve this issue,” he wrote. Thailand recently threatened to use their domestic laws to evict Cambodian citizens from two villages…
The government spokesperson unit has strongly condemned the “immoral activities” and “despicable acts” of Thai nationals who have used images of high-ranking Cambodian leaders — such as Senate president Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet and military officers — to make dartboards or targets for fairground games or dartboards. It described their actions as lacking dignity. In a statement issued today, October 7, the spokesperson unit noted that most Asian peoples, particularly Thais and Khmers, have a long tradition of showing the utmost respect toward members of Royal families or senior officials. The statement reiterated that the Cambodian leadership has…
As the world grapples with resurgent unilateralism under the Trump 2.0 administration, Southeast Asian leaders are under pressure to safeguard regional unity. The Fourth Phnom Penh Forum, set for October 8 at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, will dissect these tensions, urging ASEAN to reclaim its centrality in a fractured global order. Organised by the academy’s International Relations Institute of Cambodia, the one-day gathering will draw top experts, policymakers and scholars from Cambodia, Germany, India, the Philippines and South Korea. Themed “Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism: ASEAN’s Strategic Autonomy and Policy Choices”, the forum arrives at a pivotal moment. With US policies…
The Norwegian government has continued its support for Cambodian demining activities, announcing a $1.2 million grant for clearance efforts over a 3-year period, from 2025 to 2027. The commitment was shared today, October 6, during a meeting between Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and Norwegian ambassador Astrid Emilie Helle. Thuch commended Norway for its support, noting that he regards the Nordic nation as not merely a donor, but a true partner of Cambodia for more than three decades, according to a CMAA press release. He shared how Norway has…
Hul Malis is a resident of Prey Chan village. Despite living there for decades, she can no longer access her home because of razor wire barricades erected by Thai troops. She described the ongoing situation in her village, as well as the background of the Chong Chhan settlement, which she explained is Cambodian territory. Thailand has used unrecognised unilateral maps and its own domestic laws to claim sovereignty over the area. Malis, 52, was born in Knach Romas village and commune in Battambang province, but has called Prey Chan – in O Beichoan commune, O Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province…
Senate president Hun Sen has called for Cambodians to refrain from retaliating against what he called “unethical behaviour” by a group of Thai nationalists. He shared a video clip which showed Thai marksmen using his image, and that of Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata, as paper targets. The images were emblazoned with the word “Wanted”. In response to the video, he posed a question. “Is this the behaviour of civilised people with morals, ethics and dignity?” he asked. He advised Cambodians not to commit such vile acts, describing them as “inhuman and worse than animals”. Hun Sen…
Oxfam in Cambodia and the Village Support Group NGO have launched an emergency cash transfer programme to support 200 vulnerable families in Oddar Meanchey province, in response to the urgent humanitarian needs of communities affected by the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border dispute. The recipients include members of indigenous communities in Anlong Veng and Banteay Ampil districts and Sangkat Samrong and the surrounding protected areas, according to an October 6 press release. The NGOs’ support followed a thorough assessment of 19 villages across four communes and three districts in Oddar Meanchey province from August 26-30. A total of 499 households were interviewed, their…
Australian ambassador Derek Yip met with Cambodian scholars to congratulate them on being provisionally selected for the 2026 intake of the Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS). 55 students have been selected, more than half of them women, and six people with disabilities. “An investment in a high-quality education for Cambodia’s best and brightest will generate significant development benefits for the nation,” said Yip, during an induction day, held at the Institute of Foreign languages at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, on October 3. According to an embassy press release, five of the awardees received scholarships through the Mekong Australia Partnership…
The commander of Cambodia’s Military Region 5 has responded to Thai demands that he prepare an evacuation plan for the residents of the disputed villages of Chouk Chey and Prey Chan, in Banteay Meanchey. Lieutenant General Ek Sam Oun urged his counterparts in Thailand’s First Military Region to respect the results of past General Border Committee (GBC) meetings and refrain from taking any unilateral actions concerning the dispute. He noted that it was previously agreed that the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) of both countries is the correct mechanism for resolving tensions. He made his request in an October 5 response…