Exclusive: The Cambodian peace test, testimony of the border conflict with Thailand

This diary by Suot Vichet, a researcher at the Anlong Veng Peace Centre, offers a personal perspective on the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand in July 2025. Through detailed daily accounts, the author describes the difficulties experienced by families, the suffering of soldiers and the unwavering hope for peace. Vichet's reflections offer readers a striking testimony to the courage and resilience of the Cambodian people in the face of turmoil and uncertainty.

Suot Vichet – researcher at the Anlong Veng Peace Centre

Crossing the war zone along the border between Cambodia and Thailand convinced me that peace is truly precious and difficult to achieve. The conflicts between the two countries in 2008 and 2025 intensified my patriotism. This diary presents my memories of the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over five days, from 24 to 28 July 2025.

24 July 2025

At 8:39 a.m., I received a call from the team at the Cambodia Documentation Centre in Phnom Penh, asking me to confirm whether there was a deployment of weapons at Ta Moan Temple. Mek Ven. Together with the team at the Anlong Veng Peace Centre, we contacted a friend who was there. He received alarming information that villagers were fleeing because Thai forces had already fired on Khmer soldiers. The team and I immediately began providing continuous updates on the border situation. On social media and Telegram groups, I received a lot of misinformation, especially from sources near the shooting. I responded to calls with the team until 5 p.m.

I was extremely worried about my older brother, a soldier in the 382nd Battalion of the 8th Intervention Regiment, 1st Directorate, Preah Vihear Province. I had a lot of trouble reaching him because his phone was out of service; I had to contact him through other soldiers. I was relieved to learn that he was stationed at the rear command post in the village.

From the window of our Peace Centre, I watched many students and residents quickly crossing the town of Anlong Veng, a clear sign of preparations and evacuation. At midday, I also saw convoys of motorbikes, tuk-tuks and various vehicles, all loaded with goods, leaving the district of Anlong Veng for Siem Reap province and other safe areas. Some were taking livestock, pigs and agricultural equipment.

Back home, my family discussed the possibility of seeking refuge with relatives in the Sre Nouy district of Siem Reap province. My mother was reluctant to leave the family.

Unfortunately, we did not have enough means of transport to evacuate everyone in an emergency. There are six members in our family and we only have two motorbikes. That evening, relatives in Sre Nouy called three or four times, concerned about the conflict at the border. Late at night, my father and I decided to take my mother and two younger siblings to Sre Nouy. The other three members stayed in Anlong Veng: my father, my older brother and me.

25 July 2025

At 6 a.m., I got up and quickly packed clothes and important papers onto the motorbike. We travelled to Sre Nouy without even having breakfast. On the road from Anlong Veng to Siem Reap, I saw convoys of cars and motorbikes heavily laden with cargo.

On the way back to Anlong Veng, I saw even more refugees in various vehicles, transporting elderly people, children, livestock, provisions, blankets, clothes and agricultural equipment. Some were heading for refugee camps about 20 km from Anlong Veng, while others were continuing on to Siem Reap. I noticed worried and distraught faces and many phone calls; everyone was saddened to have to leave their homes.

When I returned to Anlong Veng at 11:30 a.m., Thai shells were falling on civilian villages, especially in Samrong and at the O'Smach checkpoint.

At home, we prepared to enter the bunker, dug under the house after the 2008 conflict. Inside, we had stored rice, canned goods, and dry food for emergencies.

We listened carefully to the radio for news from the battlefield. I could see the yellow smoke from the shell explosions in Anlong Veng and hear the rumbling of gunfire in the distance. Fortunately, Anlong Veng was safe and did not suffer any explosions, unlike the surrounding areas. That day, I learned of further incidents at Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Krabei Temple and the O'Smach checkpoint.

The atmosphere in the village was much quieter, with each house now home to only one or two people. The village chiefs and neighbours shared fresh fish caught in Anlong Veng Lake so that everyone could cook.

In the evening, I learned from my father that Phnom Trop had been attacked. Phnom Trop is a strategic site in Preah Vihear province, on Cambodian territory. The worrying news was that many Cambodian soldiers on the ground had lost contact when Thai forces launched a massive attack with artillery and mortars.

Some soldiers mentioned a counterattack. I was upset because Phnom Trop was my father's base before he retired. I used to go there during school holidays more than ten years ago. My father was commander on this battlefield during the conflicts around the Preah Vihear temple between 2008 and 2011.

Phnom Trop is the highest Cambodian battle point, at an altitude of over 225 metres. The forces climbed on foot (649 steps). I took food to the outposts every day and observed the Preah Vihear temple.

Thinking back on the monument, I was overcome with emotion for the lives of the soldiers guarding the border in the forest. They faced the cold, the rain and hard labour. At the top of Phnom Trop, there was a large tent (over 20 m²) and a very tall antenna. I learned how to operate the radio there and received reports from the outposts.

Looking at the photos of the antenna, a memory came back to me: one night in October, my father and several soldiers were telling ghost stories while I lay down on a large sack of rice intended for the Cambodian Royal Army. My father said that one day, while hunting in the forest, he saw a squirrel jump into a hole. He dug to find it, then climbed inside. His torch illuminated the animal, and when he pulled it out, he found a very long hair. I told him he must have seen a ghost. I was too scared to sleep that night. Those memories are still very vivid today.

Suot Vichet welcoming Cambodian visitors from (left to right) Canada, France, the United States and Australia at the Anlong Veng Peace Centre, January 2025

26 July 2025

In the morning, my father received a call from a soldier in Phnom Trop, reporting that he had survived the Thai attacks with shells and mortars.

As civilians, we were very anxious and waited for news. We still did not know whether the Thais were in complete control of Phnom Trop. I was worried about the safety of the soldiers on the front line, and about my older brother. That day, I learned that Colonel Duong Samnieng, commander of Cambodia's 7th Intervention Regiment, had died at the strategic site east of Preah Vihear Temple.

While I was at home, I saw an old man passing by, carrying luggage on both sides, a rucksack and a raincoat. I asked him where he was going. He replied:

"I'm getting ready to cross the district of Sre Nouy, but I want to see my grandchildren first. I've heard about bombs and shells, and it scares me. Everything is difficult, especially with the rain. Even in the refugee camp, it will be complicated for my grandchildren. I don't have a phone to follow the news, I hear the shells directly. I pray to the Spirits of Water and Earth, the protective genies, to protect the grandchildren in the front lines and in the rear."

27 July 2025

That day, I got up early to watch the news. I could hear constant artillery fire from strategic positions in the town of Samrong, Ta Moan Thom temple, Ta Krabei temple, O'S mach post and Preah Vihear temple. The roof of the house was shaking so hard that it was impossible to stay in the bunker.

I learned that Thai F-16 fighter jets had bombed and destroyed the Preah Vihear temple, built by our Cambodian ancestors. This destruction is considered immoral and constitutes a crime against humanity.

28 July 2025

Early in the morning, I learned that Thai forces were continuing their attacks with F-16 jets, rockets, cluster bombs and toxic gases. I was extremely worried about my uncles and brothers who were soldiers on the border.

A cousin advised us to put garlic in a cloth to cover our mouths and noses to protect ourselves from the poison. At 12:35 p.m., fearing the gas, I received raincoats and thick blankets. Later, a soldier from Phnom Dangrek Mountain announced: ‘Today the wind is blowing from east to west, with rain, which prevents the toxic gas from reaching the border villages.’ This news relieved me, and I thought that our country really does have protective spirits...

We received information that the Thais had bombed outpost 411. At the same time, I heard an announcement on the village chief's loudspeaker, but my village couldn't hear it very well. I called him and he offered to share a whole pot of fish he had caught with those who remained. I received two kilos of fresh carp. Later, I heard heavy artillery fire at O'Smach post and Ta Moan Thom temple, near Anlong Veng.

A soldier from Phnom Dangrek warned us that the inhabitants of Anlong Veng had to remain very vigilant because all the strategic sites around had been attacked, fearing explosions in Anlong Veng on the last day. I also saw the news of ceasefire negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand in Malaysia.

We were relieved to learn that there would be an agreement at midnight sharp.

At midnight, we heard no more gunfire. I was both relieved and saddened by the courage of the Cambodian soldiers who died defending their homeland. My heart was filled with national pride and the desire to serve my country for peace and territorial integrity. The historic battles of this place gave me even more love for my country and inspired me to work for peace. Cambodia needs peace, but regularly faces Thai aggression and the arbitrary loss of lives due to attacks from neighbouring countries.

Suot Vichet, Senior Researcher - Anlong Veng Peace Centre, Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia