Border conflict: Phnom Penh raises its tone

The Cambodian Ministry of Defence warns: “aggressive” attacks by the Thai army have forced more than 54,550 civilians to flee their homes in Military Regions 4 and 5 — that’s 16,598 families. The provisional toll, as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, reports seven civilian deaths and twenty wounded, mainly in the provinces of Oddar Meanchey (three killed, eight wounded), Preah Vihear (three killed, ten wounded) and Banteay Meanchey (one killed, two wounded).

Prime minister Hun Manet

Since 7 December, Thai strikes have multiplied, hitting Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat provinces. Heavy artillery, F‑16 jets and even toxic gas have been used; the assaults ravaged houses, temples, health centers — and forced the closure of hundreds of schools. The displaced are now packed into shelters — 12,996 in Oddar Meanchey, 13,056 in Preah Vihear, 13,686 in Banteay Meanchey, 3,736 in Pursat, and 11,076 in Siem Reap.

This human tragedy challenges the spirit of the joint Declaration signed on 26 October in Kuala Lumpur under the auspices of Donald Trump and Anwar Ibrahim — then ASEAN chair.

International calls for reason

The United Nations, the European Union, Australia, Germany and France have repeatedly called for restraint. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres denounces “air strikes and deployment of heavy weaponry,” urging a return to the ceasefire from 28 July and a serious dialogue. The EU has offered support for humanitarian demilitarization, while Canberra and Berlin insist on protecting civilians and upholding the commitments of Kuala Lumpur. Paris underscores that “only dialogue respectful of international law” can resolve this century-old border dispute.

Phnom Penh’s firm voice

Prime Minister Hun Manet denounces Bangkok, accusing it of targeting villages up to 28 km from the border under the pretext of “sovereign reconquest.” On social media he argued: “If Thailand loves peace, let it respect peaceful mechanisms such as the Joint Border Commission (JBC), which has been working for twenty years on colonial‑era maps.”

He emphasizes that joint technical teams have made progress on border demarcation (on markers 42–47 in Banteay Meanchey and 52–59 in Battambang) — proof, he says, that technical delimitation should take precedence over brute force.

In this tense climate, Cambodia reaffirms its sovereignty — without denying that of its neighbours. But beyond words, it is thousands of broken lives that plead for a lasting ceasefire. Will ASEAN and its international partners keep their promise of peace?