Thai-Cambodian Peace Deal Collapses as Border Violence Escalates
The fragile truce between Thailand and Cambodia is near collapse after landmine explosions and civilian shootings reignited tensions along their disputed border. A 2013 ASEAN-brokered peace agreement, designed to end decades of conflict, now hangs by a thread as accusations fly between both nations.
Decades of Dispute: The Preah Vihear Flashpoint
The Thai-Cambodian border, particularly near the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear temple, has been a volatile zone for generations. The 2011 clashes near the temple killed dozens and displaced thousands. While the ICJ later awarded the temple to Cambodia, surrounding areas remain contested.
The 2013 peace deal promised demilitarization and joint development, but progress stalled. Unexploded landmines—legacies of past wars—still injure civilians, while sporadic gunfire terrorizes border villages.
Fresh Violence Sparks New Hostilities
Last week, a Cambodian farmer in Oddar Meanchey province lost his leg to a landmine. Cambodian officials accuse Thailand of neglecting mine clearance, while Thailand denies responsibility, claiming “unidentified actors” planted new explosives.
Days later, a Thai villager was fatally shot near the border. Thai military sources allege Cambodian forces crossed into disputed territory, but Cambodia dismisses the claim as a “fabricated provocation.”
Diplomatic Tensions Rise
The clashes have strained diplomacy. Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet demands an emergency ASEAN meeting, while Thailand resists “external interference.” Analysts warn of a return to 2010s-era hostilities.
“Both governments face domestic pressure to project strength,” says Dr. Suthida Chaisorn, a regional security analyst. “Hardliners are exploiting this to undermine peace.”
Border Communities in Crisis
Civilians suffer most—farmers avoid fields, children skip school near conflict zones, and NGOs report growing displacement.
“The world moved on after 2013, but we never got peace,” says Sokha Lim, a Cambodian villager. “Now we’re reliving the same horrors.”
Can the Peace Deal Be Saved?
ASEAN faces a credibility test as it urges restraint. Yet without verified troop withdrawals and accelerated mine clearance, the agreement may fail.
For now, the border remains a powder keg—where history repeats in gunfire and explosions.
— Reporting by NextMinuteNews, with ground inputs from Siem Reap and Bangkok.
