Phnom Penh — Young Artists Pray for an End to the Guns

At the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) in Phnom Penh, art and faith came together this week as students, faculty and staff held a solemn prayer event dedicated to Cambodian soldiers standing firm on a volatile border.

The campus of one of Cambodia’s oldest cultural institutions was transformed into a space of reflection. Participants — some dressed in traditional attire, others clutching sketchbooks — lit candles and prayed for the protection, courage and success of troops defending the nation’s sovereignty.

Against the backdrop of sculptures and murals that reflect Cambodia’s rich artistic heritage, the ceremony underscored RUFA’s deep cultural ties to the country’s pivotal moments, especially during times of national strain.

Tensions at the Border

The prayer gathering took place amid sustained clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces along their shared border. Those confrontations have already resulted in casualties on both sides and forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee artillery and gunfire. Cambodian authorities have condemned what they describe as breaches of national sovereignty, even as international appeals for a de-escalation of hostilities grow.

Images circulating on social and local media of destroyed homes, displaced families and empty villages have brought home to young artists the real costs of conflict — far beyond the lines they draw in their studios.

Art as Support and Solidarity

During the event, visual arts students showcased works featuring soldiers, ancient temples and protective deities of Angkor — symbolic gestures intended to place the nation’s defenders under spiritual guardianship. Musicians from the university provided a soundtrack of traditional melodies, reviving age-old practices of invoking protective spirits for those who stand guard over the land.

RUFA’s choice to focus on prayer rather than political slogans reflected a thoughtful form of support: a reminder that behind each uniform is a family, a community and human lives worth defending.

For many of the young participants, the ceremony was also a lesson in how artistic engagement can intersect with civic consciousness, transforming anxiety into a collective expression of unity and hope.

A Nation Longing for Peace

The gathering resonated widely because it tapped into a deep desire within Cambodian society: a longing for lasting peace far from the traumas of the past. Cambodians have endured profound losses from decades of conflict and violence, making any sign of renewed hostilities especially poignant.

In recent days, alongside prayer vigils, there have been peaceful marches and public calls emphasizing a clear message: supporting the armed forces does not mean endorsing war, but upholding the right of every family to live without the threat of explosions or sirens. Many voices stress that Cambodia seeks peace and equitable relations with all its neighbors, even as it defends its territorial integrity.

Last evening at RUFA, that shared aspiration was evident. Each flickering candle and clasped hand told the same story: a population determined to protect its land, yet even more determined to see the guns fall silent and peace return to children in the countryside and students in the cities alike.

Photos : Lon Jadina - AKP