Razor-Wire at the Border: Thailand’s Design, Cambodia’s Protest

Approximately 9.8 kilometers of razor-wire fencing and tire barricades now cut across the Thai–Cambodian frontier, the most visible symbol of a ceasefire under strain. Since early August 2025, Thai forces have reinforced sectors in Sa Kaeo, Surin, and Si Sa Ket provinces with these barriers. Bangkok frames them as temporary safety measures against unexploded ordnance (UXO). Phnom Penh calls them a violation of the August 7 Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) ceasefire agreement. The truth lies in how each side interprets law, risk, and political pressure (Nation Thailand, 13 Aug 2025).

What Bangkok Says

Thai commanders point to the battlefield legacy of July’s clashes. In Surin province, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams documented a sharp rise in UXO hazards, with 824 impact sites identified along the border (PRD Thailand, 13 Aug 2025). In this environment, the Second Army Region argues, crossings cannot reopen until the ground is cleared and verified safe.

The Internal Security Act (2008) empowers the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) to restrict movement in declared security zones. On August 13, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the barriers are “temporary reinforcement measures” that “do not prejudice demarcation talks” (MFA Thailand, 13 Aug 2025). The military adds a second rationale: razor-wire allows “rapid tactical deployment” in case of renewed clashes — a rationale that stretches beyond humanitarian safety.

Notably, the installations accelerated after August 4, when Thai forces first laid wire in An Ses — three days before the GBC ceasefire was signed — suggesting pre-planned fortification rather than purely reactive safety measures (Nation Thailand, 13 Aug 2025).

What Phnom Penh Sees

Cambodian officials present a different picture. On August 13, the Defense Ministry released photographs and statements alleging Thai troops entered Choak Chey village (13.759°N, 102.744°E, Banteay Meanchey) and the An Ses area (13.783°N, 104.967°E, Preah Vihear) to lay razor-wire and tires (Phnom Penh Post, 13 Aug 2025). The Banteay Meanchey provincial administration declared the installations a “unilateral action” inconsistent with the Regional Border Committee (RBC) framework, which requires consultation. Phnom Penh has demanded removal of barriers at multiple locations, including the Ta Moan Thom temple zone (Phnom Penh Post, 13 Aug 2025).

These protests are not only legal but political. Domestically, Hun Manet’s government faces criticism from opposition figures such as Kem Sokha and the Candlelight Party for being too soft on Thailand (Cambodia Daily, 12 Aug 2025). Hardline responses at the border help blunt those attacks, raising the political cost of compromise in Phnom Penh.

The Legal Grey Zone

The legal core of the dispute is procedural. The August 7 GBC communiqué, signed by both nations’ defense ministers, prohibited new troop movements and required both sides to “maintain current status” (ThaiPBS, 8 Aug 2025). Past GBC minutes (November 2024) reaffirmed the principle of “prior notification and mutual consultation for any border activities likely to cause misunderstanding” (Nation Thailand, 23 Nov 2024). Thailand argues that informing Cambodia after installation suffices; Cambodia insists consultation must come first.

Some Thai legal scholars argue Cambodia selectively invokes consultation requirements — Phnom Penh installed its own fortifications near Samrong in late July without RBC notification (Bangkok Post, 10 Aug 2025). However, this does not resolve whether Thailand’s current barriers violate the August 7 ceasefire terms, which reset obligations for both parties.

With GBC-mandated observer teams still not deployed, there is no neutral verification. Each side’s narrative remains self-reinforcing. As former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa observed during the 2011 Preah Vihear crisis: “Border barriers reflect internal politics more than external threats” (ISEAS, 2020).

Stakes on the Ground

The economic stakes are significant. The Bank of Thailand estimated monthly trade losses of 10 billion baht during full closures (Pattaya News, 12 Aug 2025). Export losses could reach 162 billion baht in the second half of 2025 (Nation Thailand, 13 Aug 2025). Meanwhile, displacement has soared: over 138,000 people evacuated in Thailand and more than 300,000 displaced overall along the frontier (Al Jazeera, 5 Aug 2025; Britannica, 2025). These barriers block long-used paths to markets, farms, and family ties, deepening local hardship.

Yet commerce has never outweighed security in Thailand’s border doctrine. In April 2011, four days of fighting near Preah Vihear killed 11 people and forced the reassignment of regional commanders (Reuters, 12 Apr 2011). That memory endures. Today’s generals have little incentive to approve reopening orders that could expose them to similar career-ending risk.

This marks the fourth major cycle of barrier installation since 2008, following deployments in 2008, 2011, and 2019 — each eventually removed through RBC negotiation (ISEAS Working Paper 2020-14). The cycle is familiar: fortify, protest, negotiate, dismantle.

Regional Reverberations

The dispute extends beyond bilateral tensions. ASEAN’s credibility as a conflict-prevention mechanism faces scrutiny, particularly as Myanmar’s crisis strains the bloc’s consensus principle (East Asia Forum, Aug 2025). China watches closely — any Thai-Cambodian escalation could provide Beijing opportunities to position itself as regional stabilizer. Singapore and Indonesia, as ASEAN’s informal leaders, have urged both parties to accept third-party observers (Jakarta Post, 14 Aug 2025). The longer razor-wire remains without neutral verification, the more ASEAN’s relevance in managing member-state disputes comes into question. Early ASEAN-led mediation — especially by Jakarta — could break the impasse.

What to Watch

 1. Observer Deployment – GBC-mandated international observers have yet to arrive; their reports could validate or challenge Cambodia’s claims.

 2. RBC Meetings – Cambodia is expected to push for emergency sessions to register its protests.

 3. UXO Clearance Rates – Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC) bulletins are the key technical constraint; rising clearance numbers could enable phased openings.

 4. Commanders’ Rhetoric – Watch Second Army and Burapha Command statements; a shift from “not ready” to “ready if…” often signals reopening within days.

 5. Public Mood in Thailand – A July NIDA poll found over 75% of respondents express high confidence in the armed forces on border issues, versus lower confidence in civilian ministries (Bangkok Post, 30 Jul 2025).

 6. Legal Challenges – Either side could invoke the International Court of Justice’s 1962 Preah Vihear ruling or its 2013 interpretation, which emphasized Thailand’s obligation to withdraw from disputed zones (ICJ, 1962/2013).

Bottom Line

The razor-wire now cutting through Sa Kaeo and Surin is more than an obstacle. To Thailand, it represents a law-bound, conditions-based reopening policy under ISOC authority. To Cambodia, it is a sovereignty breach that violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the ceasefire. Until neutral observers arrive, the dispute will remain unresolved.

Historical RBC patterns suggest partial reopening at select commercial crossings in the coming months (ISEAS, 2020). Full normalization is unlikely before the November ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. The formula for resolution exists in the 2000 MOU on Border Cooperation: joint verification, graduated reopening, and face-saving exits for both militaries (ThaiPBS, 10 Aug 2025). What’s missing isn’t a mechanism; it’s the political will to use it. Indonesia and Singapore should lead ASEAN efforts to deploy observers and mediate, ensuring the ceasefire holds.

The gates will not reopen until Thai generals, not diplomats, judge the ground safe. In Thailand’s system, that is not dysfunction. It is design.

Methodology: This analysis synthesizes 47 primary sources, including Thai Defense Ministry communiqués, MFA briefings, Nation Thailand, ThaiPBS, Al Jazeera, Cambodian provincial statements, and verified photographic documentation from August 4–16, 2025. All Thai and Khmer materials were cross-checked with independent translations.

Disclosure: I am Arnaud Darc,  Chairman & CEO of Thalias Hospitality Group and Co-Chair of the Government–Private Sector Forum (Working Group D). This article is based on open-source documentation and independent analysis.

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Razor-Wire at the Border: Thailand’s Design, Cambodia’s Protest

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Opinion: Thailand’s misperception of Cambodia

Decades of accusatory anti-government media acting as judges and investigative prosecutors have cemented the narrative of Cambodia as a backward country under a dictatorship, where people lack education and are denied the freedom of expression.

For those who have never been to Cambodia, they cannot let go of such prejudices, shaped by long-term narratives, against Cambodia. But for Cambodian people who live in Cambodia, they have grown tired of reading externally-framed and extremely negative media day-in day-out that has damaged the country’s reputation until today. This has created a persistent misperception of Cambodia among foreigners, including Thais.

1. The thought that “Cambodia is under a dictatorship and its people cannot speak or think differently from the Government”

There is an entrenched misperception among Thais who have never been to Cambodia that Cambodia is under a dictatorship and that the people are blindfolded by the centrally controlled media.

In fact, Cambodians have a wide range of media to choose from. In a country where social media is so prevalent, it is difficult – impossible – to suppress diverse opinions into one single opinion. The only way to do this is to completely shut down social media, and Cambodia has never done that.

With a growing number of people benefiting from better education, greater exposure abroad, and a youth who considers mastering new technologies “cool,” the new generation of Cambodians is a cautious reader. They don’t believe easily. They may not be as expressive or loquacious as political activists expect, but they are silent and critical observers. They understand what is good and what is bad for Cambodia.

They broke their silence when national territorial integrity was at stake, when the peace that Cambodia had enjoyed uninterruptedly for 26 years was at stake.

The recent peace rally in Phnom Penh and the enthusiasm of Cambodians from all walks of life to donate to frontline soldiers and war evacuees do not seem to suggest government-imposed action. They volunteered to do so. They did so wholeheartedly. Tens of thousands of rally supporters were predominantly from the younger generation, and they mobilized not to continue the war, but to end it.

Cambodia’s unity is consistent, from the highest level, His Majesty the King, to the grassroots people and civilian movements. This unity is based on the desire for Peace.

There is no blockage of access to media like what Thailand is doing. For instance, the Bangkok Post and the Nation have blocked access for Cambodian readers.

Cambodian newspapers like the Khmer Times and the Phnom Penh Post also received massive attacks from Thai netizens but they nevertheless chose to open their outlets for Thai readers so that the latter can balance their reading vis-à-vis the narratives created by the Thai government and military.

2. The thought that “Thailand helped Cambodia in the past and now Cambodians shoot at them”

It is an indisputable fact that Thailand assisted in Cambodia’s peacebuilding in the 1980s and 1990s.

At the special lecture at the ASEAN Secretariat on 5 May 2025, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his gratitude toward ASEAN, including Thailand, for their indispensable contribution to Cambodia’s peace process.

“At this point, I acknowledge that Cambodia owes a great deal to ASEAN. We must never forget that ASEAN played a significant role in Cambodia’s peacebuilding process, although Cambodia was not a member of ASEAN at that time. Consider how vital was the role of Thailand in hosting Cambodian refugees and facilitating the return of nearly 400,000 displaced individuals? Why was His Excellency Chavalit Yongchaiyudh willing to facilitate negotiations between Cambodian different factions both in Thailand and even in Japan? Why was Indonesia willing to provide a negotiation platform for Cambodia? And why was His Excellency Ali Alatas willing to step in and act as a mediator in a conflict far from his own country and without a direct impact on its national security? These actions reflect a shared sense of regional responsibility – an institutional spirit that transcends national interests and borders. It exemplifies the use of soft power, the power of negotiation without resorting to gunfire, and relying instead on multilateralism with engagement from multiple stakeholders.”

Contribution to peace process and refugee repatriation were noble acts by Thai government and people.

But showing gratitude does not mean that Cambodia should cede its land and temples to Thailand.

There is no other word to describe Thailand’s actions than invasion: when Thailand attacked the Preah Vihear temple, which the International Court of Justice determined belonged to Cambodia in two separate rulings in 1962 and 2013; when Thailand extended the battlefield from Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces to Pursat province; when Thailand used F-16 and Gripen fighter jets to drop massive bombs like the MK-84 and penetrate deep into Cambodian territory; when Thailand continues to use its unilateral map to claim territory and justify its military actions.

Thailand accused Cambodia of attacking civilians, but bullets cannot distinguish between civilians and military personnel, or between different age groups. Despite having more modern weapons and guidance systems, Thailand has attacked pagodas, schools, hospitals, etc., which are by no means military targets.

3. Troubling signals from Thai media and thinkers

The author has been concerned about the complete absence of calls for peace from the community of Thai media and thinkers. The Cambodian media published opinions daily related to the appeal for peace. Some Cambodians are not writers, but they expressed their worries and concerns for the well-being of the country and its people, and they wrote to advocate for peace.

On the contrary, while it is necessary for the Thai media to justify the country’s actions, it is worrying that Thai journalists and thinkers have not called for peace.

While the Cambodian people have shown enthusiasm for the ceasefire, the possible restoration of peace, and the normalization of borders, the same enthusiasm is not found among the Thai media and thinkers.

Media and thinkers are considered as opinion leaders.

Expressing voices for peace is a noble conduct for humanity, not to serve any political agenda or purposes. It is worrying that Thai media and thinkers are not promoting a peace agenda and that the freedom of expression that Thailand often boasts as superior to Cambodia is not serving the goals of democracy, peace and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The only conclusion we can draw is that the Thai people and media seem dissatisfied with the peace with Cambodia. But this is not a conclusion we want to draw. We want Thai media and thinkers to prove the opposite.

The author Chan Kunthiny is a Phnom Penh-based geopolitical and security analyst. The views and opinions expressed here are the author’s own.

 

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Opinion: Thailand’s misperception of Cambodia

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The world should start hearing our voices

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I'm a daughter of Cambodia. I grew up in Sihanoukville. I have no political ambition, nor do I want anything more than what I need in life. I like to share my thoughts because I want to help.

I must speak out if I see danger. Based on my analysis of the recent conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, I see an imminent threat in the coming years: Thailand will invade and occupy 6 of Cambodia's provinces by 2075. The invasion is not a distant possibility, but a looming danger that we must address now. Thailand will want Koh Kong, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Siem Reap back. Thailand wants all the territories that it ceded to France in 1893. Thailand is no longer a passive nation. It's becoming more assertive and aggressive in its territorial claims. One can tell which direction a country is heading based on the rhetoric coming from its leaders and citizens, and the rhetoric is alarming. Thailand has imprinted the toxic seed of ambition in the minds of the new generation. The seed will bear fruit in the next several decades.

Thailand has consolidated its power under the monarchy, and there's no turning back. Thailand revoked the monarchy's power in the early 1900s, but 100 years later, it has partially restored the monarchy's power. The civilian power is just a pony show for international observers.

The first stage of war is an information campaign within the country to gain public support. The second stage is to test the international response. What just happened was just the second stage. Unfortunately for Thailand, they never thought Donald Trump would intervene. With the threat of higher tariffs and the collapse of Thailand's economy, Thai territorial ambition came to a screeching halt.

However, Donald Trump won't be here forever for Cambodia. The United States has a term limit. He's only here for three more years. Thailand has time on its side. In the future, Thailand may no longer rely on the US market.

As the world advances, so does military technology. Thailand's use of drones to bomb Cambodia was just a taste of what's to come. By 2050, Thailand's military will be far more advanced than Cambodia's. We're talking about swarm drones, stealth fighter jets, humanoid soldiers, and naval drones. Cambodia would be outgunned and outmatched. It's like bringing a gun to a knife fight. By 2100, seizing half of Cambodia would be a cakewalk, and not even Vietnam would dare to face off with Thailand.

It's time for Cambodia to turn a new page. Cambodia's foreign policy needs to be updated. It's time to bring in the big guns. It's time to bring in the cowboys from the United States of America. Cambodia needs to amend the constitution and invite the United States to build and operate a military base west of Siem Reap, Cambodia. This base would be under Cambodian sovereignty, with the US military providing support and protection. What better way to stop Thailand than to have the world's number one military at its doorstep? Besides, aren't they allies? America's military base in Cambodia would stop Thailand's ambitions for good.

The United States would protect Cambodia's sovereign territory for hundreds of years to come. No neighbor would dare try to invade Cambodia again. How do we know this? Over 50 countries have US military bases, and they are all safe. Nobody invades them. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, but it has a US military base. The Philippines' former and current presidents are father and son, but it has a US military base. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are all kingdoms, but they have a US military base.

The US does not want anybody's territory anymore - not by force. Just look at World War 2, the US returned all the countries to their owner. The US is an ocean away from Cambodia. They would be doing us a favor, not the other way around. If the US wanted other people's territory, it would not have given back the Philippines after Spain lost the war. The US's actions in the past demonstrate its commitment to respecting the sovereignty of other nations, and we can trust that it will do the same for Cambodia.

What are the benefits of having a US military base in Cambodia besides protection? There are significant economic opportunities that come with hosting a US military base. Investors would feel more confident in their investment. The government would be more stable. Tourism would likely increase. The US military would spend money locally, injecting billions into our economy every year. The military base is not just about protection, but about a brighter economic future for Cambodia.

In 1860, King Ang Doung and King Norodom requested the French as a counterbalance to the influence of neighboring states. It's time for Cambodia to do the same, but this time it's the world's number one superpower, the United States of America. Currently, Cambodia risks losing half of its western territories, if not all its territories, if it does not adapt to the changing geopolitical landscape. Unfortunately, even in modern times, nations still invade each other, as we see with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I ask all citizens to share this with their friends, so that our government can consider this course of action. Your support and voice are crucial in this decision. Let's stand together for the future of our beloved Cambodia.

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I am a daughter of Cambodia. I grew up in Sihanoukville. I have no political ambition

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Donald J. Trump U.S. Department of State

On July 17th, 2025, the new German Chancellor, Fedreich Merz, had a message for President Donald Trump: "Stay with us, stay with Europeans."

Two weeks later, on July 24th, 2025, Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodia over disputed Temples. The attack stopped after President Donald Trump intervened on July 27th.

My plea to President Donald Trump is to stay with us, stay with Cambodians.

Let me address the elephant in the room first: Cambodia was unable to develop as many international observers had hoped. There are significant problems and concerns. There seems to be some conflict every decade or so. Cambodia is addressing these concerns.

Thailand's 5-day assault on Cambodia was a strategic move that cannot be overlooked. Thailand utilized every tool in its arsenal: airstrikes, drones, howitzer artillery, and rockets. Was this a mere border dispute over a temple or a full-fledged invasion? Let's examine the facts: Thailand launched attacks at 11 different locations, spanning the entire 800km border and several other provinces in Cambodia. The extended battle line, far from the disputed temples, is clear evidence that this was not about the temple. The border conflict was a smokescreen for territorial expansion. Thailand's invasion plan was only halted due to President Donald Trump's tariff threat. Cambodia was on the brink of destruction, and it was President Donald Trump who inadvertently prevented Thailand's expansion plan from materializing.

In recent years, Thailand, too, has turned increasingly towards China. Since the 2014 coup in Thailand, China has become the top arms supplier to Thailand, alarming Washington. Thailand signed up with China's Belt and Road Initiative. Thailand signed an agreement to procure weapons jointly with China. The Thai government's Defence Technology Institute (DTI) will set up Thailand's first commercial joint defense facility with China in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, Thailand. Thailand participates in a Chinese military exercise called "Falcon Strike," while pretending to be a US ally. We should note that Russia conducts military exercises with China. China's arms sales to Thailand are equivalent to a political and military alliance. Thailand wants to have its cake and eat it too.

China's arms sales to Cambodia are relatively small compared to Thailand, which is in the billions of dollars, and it's increasing every single year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The only difference is that Cambodia had no choice but to buy arms from China. Thailand can buy from the United States, but it chooses to buy from China, a calculated realignment with Beijing. China invests $30B in Thailand with over $120B in bilateral trade, while Cambodia accounts for only a fraction of that. Cambodia-China bilateral trade is less than $20B. China's investment in Cambodia is just several billion dollars. The real Chinese ally is Thailand, not Cambodia.

While Bangkok points fingers at Phnom Penh for aligning with China, Thailand is guilty of the very thing it's accusing its neighbor of, but on a much larger scale. Unlike Phnom Penh, Thailand not only aligns with China but also pretends to be a US ally. Thailand's double-dealing is a betrayal of trust at its finest.

Arms sales to Thailand are understandable if arms are for defensive purposes, but to bomb your neighbor into submission over a disputed temple is not defensive at all. To use American arms to coerce Cambodia from seeking the world court to adjudicate the disputed claims is not only Russian-like, but it goes against the spirit of the American end-user agreement.

The world cannot ignore Cambodia. Since the United States dropped 2.7M tons of bombs on Cambodia (more than WW2 combined), it has been through hell and back. From civil war to genocide, Cambodia came back. Since then, the world has come together to build this project. Cambodia is the world's project. Please stay with us. Please help us see that this project is completed and successful.

I ask President Donald Trump to stay with us, stay with Cambodia. In the age of might is right, Cambodia cannot be another victim of imperialist expansionism, just like what Russia is doing to Ukraine. Thailand and Cambodia have overlapping cultural claims. We cannot allow Thailand to swallow Cambodia and erase the Khmer culture and identity that dates back two millennia. Kyiv was the first East Slavic city. Moscow is now trying to rewrite history and claim it as Russian. Angkor Wat was the center of the Khmer state a millennium ago; now, Bangkok, too, wants to rewrite history and reclaim it as Thailand.

Thank you, President Donald Trump, for your intervention between Thailand and Cambodia. Millions of Cambodians and I are rooting for your Nobel Prize nomination, as you truly deserve it. I will make it my personal goal to campaign for your Nobel Peace Prize. 360,000 Americans who identified as Cambodian will also root for you. God bless you and God bless the United States of America!

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On July 17th, 2025, the new German Chancellor, Fedreich Merz, had a message for President Donald Trump: "Stay with us, stay with Europeans.

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On August 3rd, 2025, the Ministry of Defence of Thailand posted on Facebook, highlighting the significant humanitarian role Thailand played under the Khmer Rouge. Hundreds of thousands of Cambodians sought refuge in Thailand, a beacon of hope during the dark times of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.

I can only speak for myself. I am very grateful for Thailand. I am thankful for much more than the refugee camps. I wish to thank Thailand for opening its doors to over two million Cambodian migrant workers to seek work in Thailand over the past 20 years, helping to alleviate poverty and suffering in Cambodia. Thailand was the land of opportunities for many Cambodians.

The war between Thailand and Cambodia is a tragic chapter in our shared history. We, as neighbors, should strive for unity and understanding, not conflict.

If Thailand's beef is with the Phnom Penh regime and not the Cambodian people, who are mostly poor farmers, then war is the wrong answer. Regime change at the cost of territorial concession is not politically palatable for many Cambodians. Cambodians from all political parties are united against a foreign invasion, not because they support the Phnom Penh regime, but because they do not want Cambodia to lose more territory.

If Thailand wants to play a constructive role in helping Cambodia develop, then it should help foster civil groups in Cambodia, not drop bombs on provincial soldiers and defenseless villagers. Thailand should help Cambodia economically. The sooner Cambodia develops, the easier it is for Cambodians to contemplate their rights. People cannot function if their stomach is empty.

While I do offer my gratitude to Thailand, I also want to remind the people of Thailand about inconvenient truths that Thailand cannot ignore. Thailand wittingly let China use its territory to funnel arms to the Pol Pot regime (the Khmer Rouge). Smuggling weapons to Pol Pot was a covert operation by the Thai military. China created the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge brutally killed millions of innocent Cambodians. While the Khmer Rouge is guilty of manslaughter, Thailand is, to some extent, guilty by association.

Many Thai military officers became millionaires from trading with the Khmer Rouge. Thailand purchased Cambodia's natural resources at a fraction of their value, including gemstones from Pailin and lumber in western Cambodian territories. The relationship between Thailand and the Khmer Rouge regime was so close that the Khmer Rouge officers had bank accounts and homes in Thailand.

History is a complex tapestry, woven with inconvenient truths and complicated realities. To truly understand the context of today's conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, we must be willing to dig deeper and explore the nuances of our shared past.

What forced ethnic Tai people to migrate to Southeast Asia in the early 1000s CE? Chinese Han expansionism and ethnic cleansing. China was an expansionist empire that forced many ethnic Tai people to flee from their native land in southern China into Southeast Asia or face certain death. Han people were originally from the central plain of northern China. They slowly expanded southward, pushing all the ethnic minorities south of China into Southeast Asia.

Thai people sought refuge under the Khmer Empire for hundreds of years because of Chinese expansionism before founding their first kingdom, Sukhothai, in 1238. From Sukhothai to Ayutthaya, Thailand annexed all of Cambodia's western territories during the fall of Angkor in 1431.

Should the Ministry of Defence of Cambodia issue a letter demanding that Thailand show gratitude for saving them from Han expansionism, or for Thailand annexing 33 provinces from the Angkorian legacy? Perhaps not.

I have no animosity because of what kingdoms typically did during ancient times. Kings wage war. Kings expand their empire. Kings are not accountable to their people. Kings are above the law. We shouldn't hate each other today because of what our ancestors did in the past. We shouldn't wage war for territorial expansion in modern times because we are not under kings anymore.

Despite all of this, I still would like all of Thailand to know that I am deeply grateful for Thailand's humanitarian role in assisting Cambodia during its most difficult times.

I hope that Thailand and Cambodia can normalize relations as soon as possible. I hope Thailand's leaders can dial down the tone and rhetoric that can discriminate against ordinary Cambodians. Some people in Thailand are attacking innocent Khmer migrant workers in broad daylight. Khmer people are human beings as well, and we too aspire for a better life just like the good people of Thailand.

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On August 3rd, 2025, the Ministry of Defence of Thailand posted on Facebook, highlighting the significant humanitarian role Thailand played under the Khmer Rouge.

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“Thank You, President Trump”: Cambodia Unites to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize and About to Rename Highway in His Honor

In a special assignement, Gary Franchi, Chief White House Correspondent for Next News Network, confirmed President Donald J. Trump’s formal nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and the proposal to rename National Road 4 “Donald Trump Highway,” along with a number of messages of appreciation and sympathy to the Cambodian people as follow:

“My name is Gary Franchi, I'm the chief White House Correspondent for the Next News Network, and I'm on avery special assignment. As you roll across Texas up to Congressman Ron Paul's 90th birthday cellebration and the establish of infowars studio, a story is rapidly breaking on the other side of the world, and one of the mainstream medias refuses to touch. Now the Prime Minister of Cambodia has formally norminated President Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for helping secure peace between Cambodia and Thailand, preventing war and protecting innocent lives. At the same time, a national movement is gaining incredible momentum across Cambodia to rename National Highway 4 to "Donald Trump Highway". Well, it's not yet been finalized, the supportive's overwhelming from the Prime Miniter himself to scholars and students to government officials, veteran and everyday citizens, that Cambodian people are uniting in one voice "Thank you President Trump". They see what our media ignores and it was Trump's decisive leadership that helps deliver an immediate ceasefire and restores hope in the region, long overshadowed by conflict.

As the White House Correspondent, I want to speaks directly to the Cambodian people: "Your courage, your dignity, your relentles pursue of peace have inspired me. I have come to understand the deep pain your nation has endured from genocide that took the lives of over 3 milion people to the tragedy at the Thai border where ten of thousands were driven into the mine fields and gun down in the 1980s. And yet, out of that suffering, you have built something beautiful, a nation that's seeking peace, stability and partnership with the rest of the world. That's why I want to visit Cambodia, I want to walk the ground where history was made, I want to meet the survivors, I want to report on the border where bullies once true and show the world the cost of war. But, more than that, I want to experience the culture, your people and your spirit. And for the first time in my career I will be translating this segment into the "Khmer" language because your story deserves to be heard in your voice. Now let me say this clearly, the bullying from Thailand must stop. Cambodia has earned peace and the world must respect it. This movement, this moment has made possible by the tireless work of the Trump consultant, Michael Alfero, who coordinated this ever behind the scence, former Voice of Ameria and US' State Department official. And yes, the Trump's inner circle is watching. Donald Trump Junior has been fully briefed. He has seen the coverage of his response, awesome! So what's happening right now has the power to re-shape the face of diplomacy and re-center the conversation on real peace, not manifactured narratives. This is what peace-through-strength looks and what the media will do everything to ignore. And that's why we're here to make sure that you see it first".

For the Next News Network, I'm Gary Franchi, on assignement! stay tune!”

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Thank You, President Trump”: Cambodia Unites to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize and About to Rename Highway in His Honor

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International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a set of rules that governs warfare or armed conflict. The primary purpose of this law is to protect individuals who are not participating in the fighting, such as civilians, the wounded, and prisoners of war.

* Geneva Convention III, Article 118: This convention governs the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs). Article 118 states that POWs must be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities. This is an obligation that all parties to a conflict must respect.

* Customary International Humanitarian Law, Rule 128: This body of law arises from the general practice of states and is recognized as a binding rule. Rule 128 also stipulates that POWs must be released and repatriated once a war ends. This rule is broader than Article 118 of the Geneva Convention as it also applies to individuals deprived of their liberty in non-international armed conflicts.

According to official information from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations (UN):

* Geneva Conventions: The four Geneva Conventions (including the Third Convention on POWs) have been ratified by 196 countries worldwide. This means the conventions are recognized and implemented by almost every country on the planet, making them one of the most important components of international humanitarian law.

* United Nations (UN): Currently, there are 193 member states of the United Nations. All member states have the right to participate and express their views in the General Assembly.

* Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): ASEAN has 10 member states, including:

* Brunei

* Cambodia

* Indonesia

* Laos

* Malaysia

* Myanmar

* Philippines

* Singapore

* Thailand

* Vietnam

In summary, both the conventions and the rules share the same principle: the immediate release and repatriation of prisoners of war after an armed conflict ends. This principle is a crucial part of international humanitarian law designed to protect the human rights of captured combatants.

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International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a set of rules that governs warfare or armed conflict.

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Editorial : Now the Khmer need the United States to resist the Khmer genocide plan by the Siamese invaders and inhumane hegemons.

៚In this difficult time, the Khmer have not abandoned any country that has ever helped the Khmer (even if that help was sincere or by pouring water on it). But now the Khmer need to live in peace and strength on their own!

The United States is not a new option for the Khmer, we have been together since 1955. That is, since after 1946, when the United States helped the Khmer to win the Preah Vihear Temple case from the Siamese side at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), at which time neither Thailand nor Siam refused to return the Preah Vihear Temple to the Khmer according to the French-Siamese treaties of 1904 and 1907.

Therefore, even now, the Khmer people need to reach out to the United States for help, even under any guise, but it is the right of autonomy and

independent decision-making by the Khmer people themselves, who are the owners of the land, for the benefit, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty of the Khmer people, who need to live in peace and national development in all sectors.

The United States is now like a goddess who provides a cold drink of nectar when the Khmer are almost dying of thirst, unlike some countries that always boast that they are steel friends, drinking the water of the Mekong River together, but only stand by or shout in a hushed voice, "Let the Khmer be patient, let's compromise," when the Siamese military invaded at the same time in 8 battles (from August 24 to 28 at around 1 am). The Siamese invaders used overwhelming force, both military and weapons, including the use of F-16 aircraft to drop heavy bombs or MK-82 bombs, the use of cluster bombs dropped from aircraft and fired with shells, the use of suicide drones and drones to drop bombs, and especially the use of aircraft to spray poisonous smoke on the Khmer army and civilians, including shelling, bombing and destroying human heritage sites, including the temple of Preah Vihear, etc. This is an inhuman war crime on Cambodian territory.

There is another inhumane thing that the military committed against humanity, which is that the Siamese invaders used tricks to ask for friendship, shake hands and take pictures with the Cambodian army on the morning of July 29, 2025, but they instead surrounded and captured 20 Cambodian soldiers and detained them, interrogated them and tortured them in the most inhumane way. And in the end, the Siamese army returned only two Cambodian soldiers who they tortured and interrogated until one was seriously injured and one was lost in thought. The Siamese invaders continue to detain 18 Cambodian soldiers and have not returned them to Cambodia until now, even though the Cambodian government has demanded it according to the law.

Not only that, even though there has been a “ceasefire” in effect since July 29, 2025, the Siamese invaders still do not respect and implement it. In fact, on August 4 and 5, the Siamese military under the command of the commander of the 2nd Region used armed forces and equipment to lay barbed wire on some parts of the An Se Pass in Cambodian territory, which was a serious violation of the "ceasefire", even though at that time there were 13 ASEAN and international observers present to review and monitor the implementation of the Cambodia-Thailand "ceasefire".

Thus, the fact that Cambodia needs legal, political, moral and economic support, and possibly weapons from the United States since the administration of the 47th US President Donald Trump ️ is very necessary for Cambodia at this time so that Cambodia has the ability and capacity to protect and resist the ambitions of the Khmer genocide plan by the Siamese invaders, this inhuman hegemony,,,.

️

Article copyright by: Nen Rong

CHN Channel News

 

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Editorial : Now the Khmer need the United States to resist the Khmer genocide plan by the Siamese invaders and inhumane hegemons.

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  Why The great world President Donald J. Trump Archived  President must get Peace World Nobel Prize ?
He was the great world President that never found in history that never seen in others world president in the United States or others nations.
(1):The President is is a great world President never have been before Donald Trump For President that just used talk deals and put pressure on economy rather than use the nuclear weapons to stop war and every countries were affraid of him than use nuclear power weapons.
(2): The president have been bring fairness, equally, ethic and moral, demoncracy and great social responsibility,  greatest heart as the good role model for the world leader as the president in leading every wars to peace by just wording, negotiations such as Israel, Middle East, Iran, Russia and Ukrain conflics without used weapons and he saved millions of life that was so great values of ideas and achievements.
(3): We need such world President Donald J. Trump and The others president and prime ministers must look at him and drop their arms and weapons responsible for our one world living in peace together.
(4): The president Donal Trump helped to ballance the supper power of China , Russia , USA and others power countries sharing and living in peacefull and fairness responsibility for our one world communities respects, both international law , socially,  economy and military power. The ballance will bring and sharing of peace and social responsibility and economic development non-violent for our world safe.
(5):The president also have been bring American and other country rich included Cambodian  by increasing jobs and increasing in social welfare, equity, moral , ethic and social responsibility , and sharing of American interested by Tariff management,  bring a fairness of trades and sharing to others nations with greater fortune and great living again.
(6): For tax and Tariff he bring fairs and ballance for all countries included Cambodia,  Thai, Asian, China and the world not just taking money from USA but need to be fairness and balance in imports and exports, ballance economic power and  policy to bring America less trade deficits and bring direct investment for USA and increasing jobs in USA and also around the world, happy, and living in fairness included Cambodian.
(7): The president is an individual with great mind set powerfull leader i never seen in world history,  we are rare  ever seen of fairness,  ethics, equality, moral and big world respect and responsibility . You can seen Cambodian not rich countries and small country but he dare to said to Thai military, you have to stop war because his great heart he saved millions  of life Cambodian and Thai a long the boarder land and sea over 1000 kilometres living in peaceful thus he must get the great honoured as the World Peace Nobel Prize for President Donald Trump.
(8): The president knew the deep of Cambodian thousands years of history,  Cambodian ever figth over 500 years of wars , sadness, destruction of Angkor , he try to protected the Peace it bring the UNESCO world heritages site thousands years in Cambodia in peaceful keep cultural lives and respects of humanity 🙏.
I would like to propose to all world leaders , proffessors, doctorates,  especially the Nobel Peace Prize commities assessments, and Nobel Peace Prize commities shall keep in noted and fixed the mandated for the Nobel Peace Prize to celebrate for him.
Please 🙏 God King of the universe, Great Khmer Empire King of Angkorian Jayvarman VII, bless best wishes for The Great World Peace President Donal J TRUMP, has long life, healthier, Great power, and bring all The World nations in peace,  equal, stability,  security, development and happiness for all nations.
With kind and Respectful
Dr.Sam Heng PhD President CEO SBG Australian Millionaire Club sambusiness9@gmail.com dr.sam@australianmillionaireclub.com.au
All rights reserved by Dr.Sam Heng ៖
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Why The great world President Donald J. Trump Archived President must get Peace World Nobel Prize ?

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Meditation is the firm determination of the mind in a single feeling or the clear knowledge of that feeling with truth. There are two types of meditation: concentration and insight. Concentration is the concentration of the mind, binding the mind to a single feeling, not allowing the mind to wander to other feelings. There are three levels of concentration meditation according to the strength of practice, namely:
1- Kānikā samādhi is meditation in which the mind has a single feeling or the mind is calm for a while but does not last long.
2- Upacara Samadhi is a meditation in which the mind is calm and free from the five aggregates, but not from the feelings of the first and middle aggregates, but the feelings of this upacara Samadhi are the feelings of the mind in a state of near-perfection.
3- Appana Samadhi is a meditation in which the mind is absorbed in the feelings of the first and middle aggregates, in which the mind is experiencing the feelings that are the aggregates of the first and middle aggregates, namely, perception, thought, happiness, and mental defilements, all of which are the five aggregates.
What is the feeling of Samatha Samadhi?
The word samadhi, which means calm mind, is not entirely correct as sammadhi. Micchasamadhi is samadhi that deviates from the path of dharma or samadhi of the mind, which adheres to vipassanā as the ultimate cause, the path, the fruit, and nibbāna, and abandons practice and cultivation of thought. Therefore, samadhi of the mind is sammadhi to achieve. The Kechi teachers or the Atthakatha teachers say that one should focus the mind on any of the 40 types of kammadhi, according to the tolerance or individual characteristics of each individual.

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Meditation is the firm determination of the mind in a single feeling or the clear knowledge of that feeling with truth.

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Meditation is a tool for fighting against anxiety and mental weakness. People who lack meditation, have poor concentration, are easily irritated, easily irritated, think too much, do not sleep well, and may develop mental illness. Meditate to calm the mind and work normally and do better. Meditation is a technique to maintain mental health and prevent crises. Learning meditation techniques from children helps children and young people to help themselves when they have mental difficulties, so that they do not think wrongly and do wrong, which leads to crises for themselves and society.

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Meditation is a tool for fighting against anxiety and mental weakness.

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 The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts spokesman Sum Map yesterday clarified facts concerniing UNESCO’s listing of Thailand’s Songkran festival on its “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.

Map said he noted that the UNESCO listing that recognises Thailand’s new year festival is called, “Songkran in Thailand”, and not “Songkran of Thailand.”

He added that the distinction is important because the recognition of Songkran in Thailand does not affect the significance of Cambodia’s own Moha Sangkranta festival, or those of any other country.

On December 6, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) announced that the Traditional Thai New Year Festival will be included on its “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”.

UNESCO Thailand’s official website is promoting the Thai traditional New Year with the official name “Songkran in Thailand, Traditional Thai New Year Festival”.

The contemporary word “songkran” derives from the Indian Sanskrit word “sankranti” and means a repeating cycle of time throughout the year signifying a change of seasons.

“Moha Sangkranta has become a tradition in some Southeast Asian nations, which is recognised now as an intangible heritage of mankind,” Map said.

He added that UNESCO always encourages all countries to register jointly for intangible heritage of shared forms. He noted that Moha Sangkranta in Cambodia may be registered in 2026.

“We have a list of priorities for Cambodia of our intangible heritage, such as scarves and noodles. It is possible Moha Sangkranta in Cambodia may be registered in 2026 if we prepare to file it next year according to the procedure. UNESCO requires two years to evaluate and decide on registration.”

Cambodian historian Sambo Manara said yesterday that Moha Sangkranta is just a festival.

“Sangkranta is a word that signifies the New Year. For me, when it comes to Sangkranta, it is just a word that indicates a time that we celebrate the New Year,” Manara said.

Moha Sangkranta festival is the largest annual holiday in the Cambodia. On the occasion, revellers participate in religious ceremonies, visit their families in their home provinces and travel to tourist destinations.Credit By:...https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501405363/ministry-clarifies-the-significance-of-moha-sangkranta-festival/

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Ministry clarifies the significance of Moha Sangkranta festival

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 MOHA SANGKRAN Happy Cambodian(Khmer) New Year 2025 or Angkor Sangkranta on 14/15/16 April 2025🇰🇭✨

Cambodian people have many holidays during the year. One of the most important is Khmer New Year (Khmer: បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី, pronounced: Choul Chnam Thmey). It is celebrated over three days starting from the 13th or 14th of April, which coincides with the end of the harvesting season. Khmer New Year is a precious time for Cambodian people to gather with family, friends and their community. It is celebrated throughout Cambodia and is rooted in Buddhist traditions.

So how is Khmer New Year celebrated? There are different traditions on each day.

Day 1: Maha Songkran (មហាសង្រ្កាន្ត)

On the first day of Khmer New Year people put fruit in front of their houses as an offering to the gods. They believe that the new gods will come to take nourishment from the fruits and give their blessings to the home.

Day 2: Virak Vanabat (វិរ:វ័នបត)

On the second day people visit their relatives, give gifts to their parents, have a nice lunch with them or visit somewhere together.

Day 3: Vearak Loeng Sak (វារៈឡើងស័ក)

On the last day people bathe statues of Buddha and their parents and grandparents with water blessed by monks. In the Khmer language we say “Srong Tek. This is a way to respect the Buddha and your parents, bring them health and long life, and ask their forgiveness for past wrongs.

Over the three days, people also bring some food to the pagoda for ancestors who have passed away.

We welcome  to Siem Reap in 2025 and We think Khmer New Year in Siem Reap is enjoyable. People always respect and remember. We really like the big trees along the streets.  We have fallen in love with the many temples and many things such as traditional Khmer performing, Cambodian circus, food, music and nightlife. If you are in Siem Reap for Khmer New Year,we are sure you will remember it and want to come back again✅

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MOHA SANGKRAN Happy Cambodian(Khmer) New Year 2025 or Angkor Sangkranta on 14/15/16 April 2025

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