

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.
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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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.
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.
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/