Evacuees cautiously welcome Thai-Cambodia truce, brace for return to uncertainty
'I'd be so happy if the ceasefire really happens,' said Jeanjana Phaphan, a 48-year-old farmer who fled her home in Phanom Dong Rak district with her three-year-old son.
'If it's truly ending, I'm overjoyed, the happiest I've felt in a long time,' she said at a shelter in Surin city, about 50km from the border.
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an 'unconditional' ceasefire, following combat that killed at least 38 people and displaced nearly 300,000. The fighting erupted last Thursday along the jungle-clad frontier, a region long disputed and dotted with ancient temples.
The agreement, brokered in Malaysia by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, came after mediation efforts by US President Donald Trump and Chinese negotiators.
VOICES OF RELIEF AND DOUBT
Jeanjana, like many others, reacted to the ceasefire news with cautious optimism.
'If our two countries keep fighting, the hardship and loss will only grow,' she said. 'People on that side are civilians too, just like us. On our side we're just farmers — and I believe they are farmers like us too. Ordinary people working to survive.'
But not everyone was confident in the ceasefire's durability.
'I still have doubts that Cambodia will follow through with what they agreed to,' said Tee Samanjai, a 68-year-old farmer who had also evacuated. 'We may go home, but with unease. There's no peace of mind. I want to go back, but I don't trust Cambodia at all. No one in our village does.'
For Tee, returning home means tending to life's basics. 'The first thing I'll do when I get home is check on the chickens, fertilise the rice, and take care of the fields,' he said.
ACROSS THE BORDER
In Cambodia, similar concerns echoed from villagers displaced by the conflict. At a temple shelter in Phumi Bak Thkav, 55-year-old farmer Say Yoeun said he longed to return home.
'I am not happy to stay somewhere like this,' he said. 'I miss my home and livestock — and I cannot take care of my paddy field.'
Cambodian and Thai military commanders are scheduled to meet on Tuesday morning if the truce holds. Only then will villagers be allowed to return and assess the damage to their homes and farmland.
'A MINIMUM FIRST STEP'
Kavindhra Tiamsai, a 33-year-old Thai who helped evacuate her mother from the conflict zone, said the fighting highlighted how people living in rural border areas are often neglected by their governments.
'A ceasefire is a good option but also the minimum,' she said. 'What we need is a comprehensive, grounded plan that speaks to the realities of rural life — one that doesn't assume evacuation is easy or even possible when most families have no transport, no money to buffer, and no safety net to lean on.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Trump moves nuclear submarines after statements by former Russian president
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday (Aug 1) he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be repositioned to the "appropriate regions" in response to recent threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. 'I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,' Trump posted on social media. He described Medvedev's recent remarks as 'highly provocative' and warned that 'words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.' The move marks the latest escalation in rhetoric between the two leaders, who have traded barbs over Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. On Tuesday, Trump gave Moscow a 10-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face new US tariffs on Russian oil and on countries that purchase it. Russia has not signaled any willingness to meet Trump's conditions and continues to advance its own demands for peace. Medvedev, currently deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, responded by accusing Trump of playing a 'game of ultimatums' and reminded the US leader of Russia's legacy nuclear strike capabilities inherited from the Soviet Union. The Kremlin has not directly commented on Trump's latest move, but Medvedev's remarks were widely covered in Russian state media. Once seen as a more moderate figure, Medvedev has in recent years become one of Moscow's most vocal anti-Western hardliners, often issuing hawkish statements that Kremlin critics describe as reckless. However, some Western diplomats view Medvedev's rhetoric as a window into broader thinking within the Kremlin's senior policy circles.
International Business Times
2 hours ago
- International Business Times
Appeals Court Questions Trump's Use of Emergency Powers to Justify Tariffs
A US federal appeals court raised serious doubts about President Donald Trump's authority to impose broad tariffs under emergency powers. During a hearing in Washington, D.C., judges questioned whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) grants the president the legal right to impose tariffs on allied nations like Canada, China, and Mexico. Trump had used IEEPA to introduce what he called "reciprocal" tariffs in April and further increased them in February. The case now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was brought by five small businesses and 12 Democratic-led states. They argue that Trump overstepped his powers and that only Congress has the constitutional right to set tariffs and taxes. Government lawyer Brett Shumate defended Trump's move, saying IEEPA gives the president broad authority in economic emergencies, including regulating imports. But Judge Jimmie Reyna responded, "IEEPA doesn't even mention tariffs." Several judges appeared skeptical throughout the 90-minute hearing, which concluded without a ruling date. The outcome of this case could have major implications. Trump, who made tariffs a key trade tool during his second term, claims they helped address unfair trade practices and boosted U.S. manufacturing. He cited the U.S. trade deficit and illegal fentanyl imports as justification. However, critics argue these reasons do not constitute an "extraordinary threat" under the law. Earlier this year, a lower court also ruled that IEEPA does not support tariffs based on long-term trade imbalances. The appeals court has allowed the tariffs to stay in place while legal challenges continue. With customs duties now generating over $100 billion in revenue this fiscal year, tariffs have become a significant funding source. Still, economists warn that they raise consumer prices and disrupt supply chains. The Trump administration argues that removing tariff power could harm trade negotiations, although recent deals with the EU, Japan, and others have moved forward. Trump has warned of further tariff hikes on countries not reaching new trade deals by August 1. The final decision in this case is likely to head to the U.S. Supreme Court if either side loses.
International Business Times
2 hours ago
- International Business Times
Trump Demands Drug Price Cuts in Letters to 17 Pharma Giants Summary
US President Donald Trump has sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies demanding they cut prescription drug prices in the United States. The letters, released Thursday by the White House, outline his plan to match U.S. prices with those in other developed countries. President Donald Trump addessses the nation after U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear facilities X Trump recently signed an executive order requiring drugmakers to offer "most-favored-nation" pricing. This means companies must sell medications to U.S. patients at the lowest price they offer elsewhere. If drug companies do not comply, Trump warned the government could import cheaper alternatives or take other steps. Companies that received the letters include Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Sanofi, and AstraZeneca. Trump had previously criticized earlier proposals from the industry, saying they prioritized profits over patient care. He also demanded that drugmakers return any excess profits made by raising prices overseas to compensate American taxpayers. Shares of major pharmaceutical firms fell after the announcement. Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Gilead each dropped by around 2%, while a broader index of drug stocks declined 3%. Trump also suggested a system where companies can sell drugs directly to patients, bypassing middlemen, but only if they agree to international pricing rules. The president gave drugmakers a deadline of September 29 to respond with binding commitments. Health experts are skeptical that companies will meet Trump's demands. Some analysts believe the proposals are unlikely to result in immediate price changes, describing them as more political pressure than enforceable policy. Still, several companies, including Pfizer and Novartis, said they are open to working with the administration. Pfizer confirmed its ongoing talks with Trump officials to improve access and affordability for U.S. patients. U.S. drug prices remain among the highest in the world, with patients often paying nearly three times more than those in other developed countries. Drugmakers argue that sharp price cuts could harm innovation, but Trump insists bold action is needed to protect Americans from high costs.
