The BBC’s recent visit to Cambodian border villages underscores the profound human and economic toll of the ongoing conflict with Thailand, where fear and displacement persist despite a fragile ceasefire. Residents, cut off by new border barriers, express reluctance to return home amid ongoing tensions and misinformation.
Months of simmering disputes along the Thailand-Cambodia border erupted into open conflict in July, resulting in approximately 40 deaths and widespread displacement. The violence, which included shelling and bombing over five days, has left a fragile ceasefire in place, but nationalist sentiments on social media continue to fuel a war of words between the two nations. This escalation has transformed once-open border areas into militarized zones, severely impacting local communities.
During its visit, the BBC documented the installation of razor wire and black screens by Thai soldiers through villages like Chouk Chey, actions that began abruptly on August 13. Families were given minimal notice to evacuate, with some losing access to homes and fields they had occupied for decades. Thai authorities justify these measures as necessary for securing territory, while Cambodia argues they represent an illegal encroachment based on historical border markers agreed over a century ago.
The economic consequences are staggering, with Cambodia’s Provincial Governor Oum Reatrey estimating daily losses of $1 million in customs revenue due to the border closure. Annual trade between the countries, worth billions of dollars, has nearly halted, and hundreds of thousands of Cambodian workers have returned from Thailand. Tourism has also suffered, exemplified by the deserted new airport terminal in Siem Reap, which serves as the gateway to the Angkor Wat temple complex.
Cultural heritage has not been spared, as the ancient Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sustained significant damage during the July shelling. Cambodian officials reported over 140 blast sites, with shattered stairways and unexploded cluster munitions found on the grounds. Thailand denies targeting the temple and instead accuses Cambodia of stationing soldiers there, though no evidence was observed during the BBC’s visit.
Political tensions were exacerbated in June by a leaked phone conversation between former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and then-Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, where she appeared to criticize her own military and offer concessions. This leak led to her dismissal by Thailand’s Constitutional Court, marking an unprecedented intervention in a neighbor’s politics and hardening positions on both sides. Independent research indicates military buildups preceded the conflict, primarily by Cambodian forces.
Displaced persons face dire conditions, with 5,000 families living in makeshift camps under tarpaulins, surrounded by mud and poor sanitation. While Thai displaced returned home quickly after the ceasefire, Cambodians remain hesitant, citing fear of unexploded ordnance and disinformation about imminent attacks or poison gas. A sign in one camp reading “Cambodia needs peace – final” captures the widespread desire for resolution among affected communities.
Both countries are leveraging international forums, with Cambodia complaining to UNESCO about temple damage and Thailand alleging continued landmine laying by Cambodian forces. Despite accusations, Cambodian officials emphasize eagerness to restore relations, acknowledging their smaller size and economic vulnerability compared to Thailand. The conflict highlights deeper anxieties about power imbalances in the region and the need for diplomatic de-escalation.
Moving forward, ending the nationalist rhetoric and addressing the root causes of the border dispute are crucial for peace. The international community may need to mediate, as both sides struggle to find common ground. For now, thousands remain displaced, their lives disrupted by a conflict that shows little sign of abating without concerted efforts toward dialogue and compromise.