Asian journalists on the front lines of the border conflict: voices of Cambodia's battered communities

A delegation of Asian journalists concluded a five-day mission to the border between Cambodia and Thailand, shedding vital light on the devastating human impact of the conflict on the Cambodian civilian population.

Composed of reporters from China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia, the mission visited several provinces, gathering testimonies and evidence to provide a comprehensive and factual account of the horrors of the conflict that broke out on 28 May 2025, contrary to the biased accounts denounced by local authorities.

Upon arrival, the journalists plunged into the heart of the human drama by visiting the Wat Po 5000 refugee camp in Preah Vihear province, where displaced families recounted their flight from the fighting. The following days took them to Oddar Meanchey, where the scars of Thai bombing are evident: destroyed houses, shelters reduced to ruins, and traces of heavy artillery fire. A sacred Buddhist site, Wat Tamone Sen Chey, was pulverised, causing the tragic death of a monk when the temple collapsed.

The team also documented damage to a health centre, a school and a temporary shelter, revealing the extent of the destruction to civilian infrastructure.

The crucial role of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) was explained to journalists by its Director General, H.E. Heng Ratana, who detailed the ongoing risks posed by unexploded ordnance and chemical residues, as well as the ongoing efforts to clear the affected areas.

The visit to Banteay Meanchey highlighted violations perpetrated by Thai forces after the official ceasefire came into effect on 28 July 2025. Governor H.E. Oum Reatrey presented compelling evidence, including the forced expulsion of Cambodian villagers, attempts to seize plantations, and the refusal to allow displaced families to return to their land despite the end of hostilities. These actions clearly violate the commitments made at the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee meeting held in Malaysia in early August.

In total, the five days of clashes displaced more than 50,000 families, or nearly 200,000 vulnerable people, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities, who are now refugees in 185 secure areas spread across four Cambodian provinces

These figures confirm the scale of the humanitarian crisis caused by this border conflict, which continues to wreak havoc on the daily lives of Cambodians.

This collective report enriches our understanding of the conflict, far from official discourse and accusations, by giving a voice to Cambodian victims and highlighting the human, social and security consequences of these prolonged hostilities. Beyond the spectacle of weapons, it is above all human lives that are struggling in the shadow of war.

According to official data, more than 134,000 people had been displaced by the end of July, and the material damage is immense, ranging from heavy bombing to destroyed cultural sites, exacerbating the social crisis in the border provinces. The psychological trauma suffered by those displaced, particularly women and children, is also very severe.

International negotiations, mediated by ASEAN and regional powers, are attempting to stabilise the situation, but without any absolute guarantees.

This collective journalistic work is therefore crucial for a balanced and humane understanding of this conflict, which is often reduced to its political implications, reminding us that peace cannot be built without truth and recognition of the suffering endured.