Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Apostolic Nunciature Thailand
Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) - "We are all very pleased that the path of dialogue undertaken by Cambodia and Thailand has led to numerous agreements that will hopefully lead to reconciliation and a stable and lasting peace between the parties involved."
These were the words of Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to Cambodia and Thailand, the day after the agreement on the borders between Cambodia and Thailand, reached after a conflict that lasted several days and claimed over 40 victims and displaced thousands more. In response to a request from Fides, the representative of the Holy See added: "We hope that this commitment will continue in the future to avoid a recurrence of the violence we have seen in recent weeks."
"We are also encouraged by the fact that we can now focus on the thousands of people displaced by this sad conflict and in need of assistance," concluded the Apostolic Nuncio. Indeed, the situation at the border is tragic: according to estimates, over 260,000 people have been displaced. Reception centers have been set up in several provinces of Cambodia and Thailand, many of them run by local dioceses, such as Ubon Ratchathani (see Fides, 29/7/ 2025).
Among the displaced are many women with children and infants. Some have told local media that they fled with their families and had to leave everything behind within hours when fierce fighting suddenly broke out.
What does the agreement provide for?
The hostilities between the two countries were sparked by a long-standing dispute over temples on the border. The disputed temples are claimed by both nations due to a vague border demarcation by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. Last month's clashes were the bloodiest in the region in over a decade, forcing more than 300,000 people on both sides of the border to flee the fighting zones.
The ceasefire was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), at the request of US President Donald Trump and China. The ceasefire agreement followed three days of talks in Kuala Lumpur, which concluded with a joint statement that read: "Both sides agree to a ceasefire that includes all forms of weapons, including attacks on civilians, civilian targets, and military objectives of both sides, in all cases and in all areas. This agreement must not be violated under any circumstances."
In recent days, both Cambodia and Thailand had accused each other of violating the agreement. Clashes broke out again along the 800-kilometer border, but quickly subsided. The declaration also calls for another meeting between the parties within a month and a commitment by both governments to "refrain from spreading false information or fake news in order to defuse tensions." The document was signed by Thai Deputy Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 8/8/2025)
