At the border, international voices denounce clear violations of the ceasefire by the Thai side

The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand remains a source of diplomatic concern. During a press conference held last Saturday, His Excellency Nong Sakal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), painted a clear and worrying picture: diplomats and United Nations representatives, who are direct witnesses on the ground, confirm repeated violations of the ceasefire commitments by Thai forces.

Since 1 August 2025, four field visits have been carefully organised by the MFAIC, inviting the diplomatic community and international organisations to see the reality of the border situation for themselves

These missions, which were intended to be exercises in transparency and accountability, highlighted a series of acts deemed incompatible with the spirit and letter of the ceasefire.

The findings include the installation of barbed wire and black nets surrounding Cambodian civilian homes, the erection of tyre barricades, the firing of slingshots armed with rubber bullets, drone incursions into Cambodian territory, as well as the digging of trenches and the construction of military shelters. Added to this are the movement of armed troops, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and, particularly sensitive, the detention of eighteen Cambodian soldiers still in the hands of Thai forces.

‘A French diplomat expressed deep concern, highlighting in particular the case of barbed wire erected around the homes of Cambodian families,’ reported the MFAIC spokesperson, voicing the indignation of several foreign ministries.

Foreign observers, who are not satisfied with mere official reports but have surveyed the areas concerned, assert that the reality on the ground cannot be ignored or downplayed.

The diplomats present, however, did not limit their interventions to condemnation. In a spirit of seeking appeasement, they urged both countries to show the utmost restraint, to resume dialogue and to give priority to peaceful solutions within the framework of international law. It is through respect for these universal principles, they stressed, that stability can be restored and tensions defused.

This border impasse comes at a time when peace in the region remains fragile, dependent both on the will of the States concerned and on the vigilance of the international community. By publicly reporting their findings, foreign observers are seeking to remind the world that the situation on Cambodia's borders cannot be relegated to the margins of global priorities.

In Phnom Penh, the message is clear: confidence in the negotiation and regional cooperation processes is being tested. For families living along the border, these diplomatic disputes have a concrete and painful reality that only an effective return to the ceasefire can alleviate.