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The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Cambodia gather to praise ceasefire with Thailand and mourn the dead
Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Cambodia on Friday held a religious ceremony to honor soldiers killed in recent border clashes with Thai forces and to pray for peace. They marched from the country's main religious school near the Royal Palace in the capital, Phnom Penh, to a nearby temple, where they were joined by nuns and laymen and women. The monks chanted and prayed to honor the souls of the dead soldiers. A board inside the temple displayed the photographs of more than 40 men in uniform. It wasn't clear whether these images were of soldiers killed, or included those who were wounded and captured. Cambodia has admitted only to the deaths of six of its troops in the fighting, which began late last month and continued for five days. Dozens of people on both sides, including civilians, were killed in the fighting and over 260,000 displaced on both sides of the border. A ceasefire that took effect on July 29 ended major fighting, though both sides have alleged violations of the truce and the underlying dispute over territorial claims has not been resolved. Khem Sorn, the chief monk for Phnom Penh, said the main purpose of Friday's ceremony was to show support to the government for working toward peace and ending the war with a ceasefire. It was also intended to honor to the souls of the Cambodian soldiers and civilians who were killed, and to appeal to all Buddhist countries, especially Thailand, to live in peace with each other, he told The Associated Press in a phone interview. 'It means that we only want to live side-by-side with Thailand as a good neighbor, living with unity and peace with each other,' Khem Sorn said. The recent fighting was triggered by a land mine explosion in disputed land along the border that wounded five Thai soldiers. That came just a week after a similar incident. It was the latest eruption of hostilities in a decades-old dispute over ownership of several small pockets of territory along the 800-kilometer (500-mile) land border. Under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to delay crucial trade talks, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on July 28. Talks in Malaysia on Thursday reaffirmed both sides' commitment to the ceasefire deal but failed to secure the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers, who were captured in disputed circumstances after the truce went into effect. Thailand says it is treating the men in full compliance with international humanitarian law and will free them once 'active hostilities' end. The United States and China, which both played an active role in encouraging an end to the fighting, separately hailed Thursday's reaffirmation of the ceasefire, and said they look forward to supporting the parties involved in securing the peace process.
Free Malaysia Today
01-08-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Cambodian PM says 19% US trade tariff ‘the best news'
Prime Minister Hun Manet said the 19% US tariff was a boost for Cambodia's economy and would help the country continue developing. (Bernama pic) PHNOM PENH : Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday welcomed a 19% trade tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump, avoiding a threatened levy of 36%. 'This is the best news for the people and economy of Cambodia to continue to develop the country,' Hun Manet wrote on Facebook. Trump had originally threatened a swingeing 49% tariff on Cambodia as part of his 'Liberation Day' measures aimed at rebalancing world trade in America's favour, but cut it to 36% last month. Dozens of countries face steep levies under the tariff regime approved by Trump in Washington on Thursday, set to come into force in a week. Cambodia is a major manufacturer of low-cost clothing for Western brands, with garment products accounting for most of its US$10 billion in exports to the United States last year. Many factories in Cambodia are Chinese-owned and the White House has accused the kingdom of allowing Chinese goods to stop over on the way to US markets, thereby skirting steeper rates imposed on Beijing. The tariff announcement came days after Trump intervened to help broker a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia to end border clashes that left more than 40 people dead.
Bloomberg
29-07-2025
- Bloomberg
Thailand Accuses Cambodia of Breaching Truce Pushed by Trump
By and Patpicha Tanakasempipat Updated on Save Thailand's army accused Cambodian troops of violating an unconditional ceasefire, a claim contradicted by Phnom Penh, underscoring the challenges of enforcing the truce on the ground following five days of deadly border clashes. Attacks were reported from multiple locations into early Tuesday morning even though the ceasefire went into force at midnight, the Royal Thai Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said in a statement, accusing Cambodia of provoking the incidents. He also blamed Cambodia of 'deliberate violation of the agreement and an intentional act to undermine mutual trust.'
Malay Mail
27-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Hun Sen or Hun Manet: Thailand holds all the cards against the duo — Phar Kim Beng
JULY 27 — The border crisis between Thailand and Cambodia has laid bare the illusory nature of Cambodia's political transition. Far from fading into the background, Hun Sen has reclaimed the national stage, steering Phnom Penh's response with an iron grip. Rather than acting as an elder advisor, Hun Sen is the central figure directing Cambodia's strategy, eclipsing his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, in both authority and visibility. Publicly accusing Thailand of provocations, Hun Sen has reasserted himself as Cambodia's top decision-maker, revealing that the much-touted generational shift was largely cosmetic. While Cambodia's statecraft remains highly personalized and centralized, Thailand presents a stark contrast: an institutionalized system capable of calibrating its response across multiple layers of governance. In this unfolding conflict, Thailand holds the advantage—not just militarily, but diplomatically and economically as well. Thailand's military capabilities significantly outpace those of Cambodia. With better-trained forces, advanced weaponry, air dominance, and superior logistics, Thailand maintains the upper hand in any potential escalation. Cambodia's border units may be fierce and motivated, but they are no match for Thailand's coordinated defense infrastructure. Beyond the battlefield, Thailand commands a stronger position in international diplomacy. As a long-standing and respected member of ASEAN, Thailand enjoys credibility in regional and global forums. In contrast, Cambodia is increasingly viewed as dependent on external patrons, especially China, and as a country whose governance is undermined by opaque leadership and economic entanglement with illicit digital operations. Even Beijing, while publicly urging restraint, may prefer Bangkok's institutional stability over Hun Sen's unpredictable behavior. The economic disparity between the two nations further tilts the scales. Thailand's economy is more diversified, more resilient, and more integrated into regional supply chains. It possesses the capacity to weather shocks, both diplomatic and financial. Cambodia's economy, by comparison, remains fragile and vulnerable, heavily reliant on tourism, garment exports, and, increasingly, dark digital scams proliferating along the border with Thailand. These scam syndicates not only distort Cambodia's economic reputation but also entrench illicit networks that feed insecurity, corruption, and cross-border tensions. Thailand's strength lies not just in its capabilities, but in its restraint. Even when faced with armed resistance, Bangkok relies on institutional decision-making through its foreign ministry, defense establishment, and national security apparatus. This allows it to manage crises with measured responses, maintaining credibility while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Cambodia, on the other hand, suffers from a lack of diplomatic coherence, especially with the unclear balance of power between Hun Sen and Hun Manet. This ambiguity in leadership is a critical weakness. Hun Manet may hold the title of Prime Minister, but he has not been allowed to lead with full authority. Hun Sen's public resurgence in the current crisis diminishes his son's standing both domestically and internationally. For Thailand and other regional actors, it is unclear beyond Hun Sen, who else to engage—raising doubts about a quick and swift end to the war let alone be able to have a ceasefire with Cambodia that can hold. As and when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim brokered a cease between the two countries on July 25 2025, it broke down in less than an hour after 12 PM. This suggested the lack of any stability and direction in Cambodia since it was Hun Manet who made the announcement that a ceasefire had been established only to witness its own sudden end. The result is a Cambodia that appears more divided and volatile, while Thailand can act with strategic patience. Bangkok does not need to force a quick resolution. Time, regional sentiment, and diplomatic momentum are already on its side. Thailand's decision-makers understand that sustainable advantage lies not in immediate confrontation, but in leveraging regional mechanisms and narratives that position Bangkok as the more responsible actor. Hun Sen's return may project strength in the short term, but it undermines the credibility of Cambodia's political evolution. Ironically this is why Thailand cannot attack Cambodia with total vehemence since Bangkok risks creating a serious power vacuum in Phnom Penh. By denying his son the space to lead, Hun Sen, who is the President of the Cambodian Senate, signals to ASEAN and the broader international community that real change has not taken root. This perception, once formed, is difficult to undo. Hun Manet's authority as the real Prime Minister has diminished totally despite being an alumni and a four star general once trained by West Point Military Academy of the US. Ultimately, Thailand holds the cards because it plays the long game to erode Hun Sen first while hoping that Hun Manet can step into the shows of the father in future. With stronger institutions, a credible military, and more trust from regional actors, Thailand does not need to provoke Cambodia. It merely needs to weaken it from laying mines along the 817 KM borders which they share and preventing Hun Sen from resorting to any long range artilerries to bomb Bangkok. Unfortunately, Hun Sen has made the thread before. Although he is equally aware that this must be the red line that Cambodia must not cross. If it does, the dynasty of Hun Sen risks being obliterated. As things stand, Thailand simply needs to remain composed, knowing that Cambodia's volatility only strengthens Bangkok's position. In this border crisis, it is not a contest between Hun Sen and Hun Manet—it is a contest between centralized personalism and institutional maturity. And on all fronts, Thailand prevails. ** Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is Professor of ASEAN Studies at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and the Director of the Institute of Internationalization and ASEAN Studies (IINTAS). ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anxiety and pride among Cambodia's future conscripts
The generation of Cambodians who may find themselves in the firing line when the country introduces military conscription is split between quiet pangs of anxiety and proud proclamations of patriotism. "My family is poor. If I am called in for the service, I am worried that my family might face financial issues," 25-year-old tuk-tuk driver Voeun Dara told AFP in Phnom Penh. "It is worrisome for me." Citing rising tensions with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet says Cambodia will next year activate a long-dormant law requiring citizens aged 18 to 30 to enlist in the military. Hun Manet has proposed conscripts serve for two years to bolster the country's 200,000 personnel after a territorial dispute boiled over into a border clash, killing one Cambodian soldier in late May. Graphic design student Ray Kimhak's brother-in-law, a volunteer soldier, has already been deployed to the countries' 800-kilometre-long (500-mile) border. But the 21-year-old says he would gladly join him if compelled by conscription. "He said it was a bit difficult to sleep in the jungle, and it rains a lot. But these difficulties don't discourage me at all," Ray Kimhak told AFP at his university in the capital. "We are ready to protect our territory because when it is gone, we would never get it back." - 'We should be ready' - Cambodia's conscription law dates back to 2006 but has never been enforced. Hun Manet has said it will be used to replace retiring troops, though it is unclear how many citizens are set to be called up. The country of 17 million has a long and dark history of forced enlistment. Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge communist regime, which ruled from 1975 to 1979, conscripted fighting-aged men, and sometimes children, into its ranks as it perpetrated a genocide that killed two million. One 64-year-old who was conscripted by the Khmer Rouge at 17 told AFP he supported the government's decision, despite standing on a landmine during his time as a soldier. "I was forced to be a soldier by Pol Pot," he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity from the Thai border town of Sampov Lun. "Being a soldier is not easy, but I support the government's plan of military conscription in the face of a border dispute with Thailand. We need to protect our land." Under the newly activated conscription legislation, those who refuse to serve in wartime would face three years in prison, while peacetime refuseniks would face one year behind bars. Sipping green tea at a cafe, 18-year-old IT student Oeng Sirayuth says he fully supports Hun Manet's call to arms. "We should be ready, because tension with our neighbouring country is growing," he said. But personally he hopes for a deferral as he finishes his studies. "I am a bit reluctant because I have never thought that I will have to join the military service," he said. "I think 60 percent of young people are ready to join the military, so these people can go first, and those who are not yet ready can enter the service later." Under the modern-day conscription legislation, women will be allowed to opt for volunteer work rather than military service. But 23-year-old internet provider saleswoman Leakhena said she stands ready to serve on the frontlines. Last month her family delivered donations to Cambodian soldiers patrolling the border, where tensions have spiked with Thailand over a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle. "We have to do something to protect our nation," said Leakhena, speaking on the condition that only her first name was revealed. "I feel proud for our soldiers. They are so brave," she added. - 'Trust needs to be earned' - Cambodia allocated approximately $739 million for defence in 2025, the largest share of the country's $9.32 billion national budget, according to official figures. Hun Manet has pledged to "look at increasing" the defence budget as part of reforms to beef up the military. But one young would-be conscript urged the government to defer its plans as the country recovers its finances from the Covid-19 pandemic. "Our economy is still struggling," said the 20-year-old fine art student, who asked not to be named. "We are in the state of developing our country, so if we enforce the law soon we might face some problems for our economy." Political analyst Ou Virak also said Cambodia's military faces challenges from within as it seeks to win buy-in from a new generation of conscripts. "Military training, chain of command, and military discipline are all issues that need to be addressed," he told AFP. "For conscription to work and be generally supported and accepted by the people, trust needs to be earned." suy/jts/fox Solve the daily Crossword
