A senior Cambodian government figure says November 17 remains one of the most painful dates in the nation’s history, marking a period when Battambang and Siem Reap fell under Thai control before eventually being returned to Cambodia after international intervention.

Khieu Kanharith, former minister of information and now a member of the Supreme Council for Consultation, wrote on Facebook that all Cambodians should remember the difficult history with Thailand. He referred specifically to the Franco-Siam Treaty of 1907 and the Franco-Thai Settlement Agreement of 1946, which restored the two provinces to Cambodian administration with support from the United States.

He explained that the Second World War reshaped the region. Japan had seized large parts of Southeast Asia while France, the colonial power in Cambodia, was weakened by war in Europe. Thailand aligned itself with Japan in 1941, seeking assistance to reclaim territories it had controlled before 1907. Under Japanese pressure, France signed the Tokyo Convention in 1941, handing Battambang and Siem Reap to Thailand.

After Japan’s defeat, Thailand refused to return the provinces to France and offered various arguments to delay any handover. France responded by blocking Thailand’s bid to join the United Nations, using its position as a permanent member of the Security Council.

Khieu Kanharith said the United States eventually stepped in to broker a solution. Washington initiated a new agreement between France and Siam that annulled the Tokyo Convention and addressed the consequences of the 1940 to 1941 conflict. The Franco-Thai Settlement Agreement was signed in Washington on November 17, 1946. As part of that deal, Siam agreed to return the Cambodian provinces in exchange for joining the United Nations.

Commentators note that aside from the United States, few countries intervened to assist Cambodia during moments of crisis, especially during conflicts with neighboring states. They point to more recent developments as well. On July 28, 2025, United States President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire during renewed border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand. On October 26, he witnessed the signing of a bilateral peace agreement.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio also underscored the long relationship between the two countries. Speaking during Cambodia’s seventy-second Independence Day celebrations on October 29, he said the partnership has endured for more than seven decades, grounded in trust, mutual respect, and shared interests.

Hun Sen, the president of Cambodia’s Senate, is urging Cambodians to resume using PTT fuel stations, saying the company has changed its fuel imports from Thailand to Singapore.

Speaking at the opening of the 33rd General Assembly of Monks, Hun Sen said that although PTT is a Thai company, it no longer imports fuel from Thailand for its operations inside Cambodia. He said Cambodians can therefore use the stations as normal. He added that other Thai-linked companies operating in Cambodia, such as CP and Khmer Cement K Cement, should also be treated as ordinary businesses because their products are made inside Cambodia.

Hun Sen said that if goods are produced in Cambodia, they are Cambodian products, regardless of the nationality of the company or investors behind them.

He noted that he has always opposed proposals from within Cambodia to reopen the land border with Thailand for easier imports, but said that boycotting Cambodian-made products simply because the parent company is Thai would be unreasonable. He warned that refusing to use goods produced by Thai-owned companies inside Cambodia would effectively harm Cambodia’s own economy.

On November 14, Kun Nhim, director general of Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise, rejected public calls to ban all Thai imports. He said only four strategic categories remain restricted under government orders.

Commenting on the broader dispute, development researcher Meas Nee recently said that although armed conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border has stopped, economic tensions are rising. He warned that a Cambodian boycott of Thai goods could lead to a Thai boycott of Cambodian products, fuelling an economic standoff with no clear end.

On July 16, 2025, Cambodia’s customs authority banned the import of vegetables, fruit, fuel, and gas from Thailand. Hun Sen also announced a halt to the import of strategic goods, including electricity, internet services, fuel, and gas, along with a suspension of Thai film broadcasts.

Cambodia’s interior minister, Sar Sokha, says the government will file an international complaint against seven Thai soldiers accused of assaulting a young Cambodian woman as she was returning from Thailand to Cambodia.

Speaking during a visit with the survivor, Sar Sokha said the National Police is working with relevant authorities to gather evidence and present the case internationally. He described the alleged actions of the Thai soldiers as brutal and unacceptable.

Sar Sokha said the National Police is cooperating with civil society groups to document what he called a disgraceful act committed against a Cambodian citizen. He urged Cambodian workers in Thailand to travel in groups when returning home and to keep their families informed along the way. He added that any incident should be reported to local authorities immediately.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak confirmed in an audio message released today that the assault occurred inside Thai territory. He said the survivor was the only woman among more than ten Cambodian workers returning home, and that she is originally from Kampong Thom province.

According to Touch Sokhak, Thai soldiers separated the group into men and women after detaining them, leaving the women unprotected. He said seven soldiers then assaulted her. When the group reached Cambodian territory, the survivor filed a complaint with the Battambang provincial police.

Touch Sokhak outlined three steps the government will take. First, the National Police will file a complaint with the Royal Thai Police. Second, Cambodia will lodge a formal protest through the Thai embassy. Third, the case will be raised with international organizations to pressure Thai authorities to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

On November 16, 2025, local media reported that seven Thai soldiers attacked the Cambodian woman while she was returning home with more than ten male workers. Reports said the men were beaten, tortured, and robbed of their phones and money.

The Cambodia Daily has not yet received a comment from Battambang police chief Danh Eng Bunchan at the time of publication.

Hun Sen, the president of Cambodia’s Senate, says the 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand have already made their sacrifice for the nation since the day they were taken into Thai custody.

Speaking at the opening of the 33rd General Assembly of Monks on November 17, Hun Sen publicly apologized to the soldiers’ families. He said he had regarded the group as having already died for the country, though not as victims of war.

Hun Sen questioned why Vitit Muntarbhorn, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, has remained silent about the detentions. He asked why international laws often cited by Muntarbhorn were not applied when Thai troops allegedly crossed into Cambodian territory to arrest the soldiers, while the rapporteur has frequently criticized Cambodia’s human rights situation.

Hun Sen also suggested Thailand is using various issues to gain leverage in its current border dispute with Cambodia, including the fate of the detained soldiers.

On November 17, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence renewed its call for Thailand to release the 18 soldiers safely and in compliance with international humanitarian law. The ministry noted they have now spent 111 days in Thai military custody.

A peace agreement signed on October 26 between Cambodia and Thailand included provisions for the release of war detainees. Former United States president Donald Trump, who attended the signing ceremony, also urged both sides to free the Cambodian soldiers.

However, Thai media outlet Khaosod reported on November 10 that Thai Defence Minister Nattapon Nakpanit said the planned November 12 release would be postponed. The delay followed a landmine explosion on November 10 that injured two Thai soldiers.

A regional human rights official says the question of landmines along the Cambodia-Thailand border is becoming central to determining whether 18 detained Cambodian soldiers will be released.

Phil Robertson, who heads Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates, wrote on Facebook that both countries must present clear evidence instead of relying on competing narratives. He said the issue should be investigated by an independent body and pointed to the ASEAN military observers team as the most credible group to do so. According to him, if the explosion was caused by a newly planted mine, it would mark a serious breach of agreements previously signed by both sides.

He added that if the mine was a remnant from the conflicts of the 1980s, the question becomes how such legacy mines can be removed to prevent further incidents and reduce tensions along the border.

Robertson noted that Thailand is preparing for a general election while its military continues to shape border policy. He said that makes it unlikely Thailand will soften its position simply to accommodate Cambodia’s demands.

The Thai newspaper Khaosod reported that defence minister Nattapon Nakpanit said Thailand is delaying the planned November 12 release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers. The decision followed injuries to two Thai soldiers who stepped on a landmine earlier in the week.

Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama quoted foreign minister Mohamad Hasan on November 13 as saying ASEAN observers reported that the mine that injured the Thai soldiers appeared to be an old device. Malaysia said it was ready to help mediate further talks.

Khaosod reported today that Bernama later walked back its earlier story. After criticism, the agency updated its article to state that the mine involved in the recent incident was, in fact, a new one.

Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Manet says his government will stick to a diplomatic approach in resolving the border dispute with Thailand, arguing that armed conflict brings no benefit to either country or its people.

In a message posted on his Facebook page, Hun Manet said he held a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss ways to maintain dialogue and prevent further escalation along the Cambodian Thai frontier. He said violence or the use of force cannot deliver lasting peace.

Hun Manet added that Cambodia remains committed to mechanisms already agreed by both countries, including the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement issued on October 26, 2025. He said the goal is to bring the border dispute to an end and build a more stable relationship between the two neighbors.

Tensions rose earlier this month after Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said Thai troops opened fire twice on civilians in Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province on November 13. The statement said the first shooting took place at around 3:50 in the afternoon and the second at 5:54 in the evening. Three Cambodians were injured, and one was killed. The wounded were taken to the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Hospital in Mongkol Borei.

Following the incident, Thai media outlet Thai PBS reported comments from Thailand’s foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who insisted that the border dispute can still be resolved through diplomacy despite rising tensions.

Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, also posted on Facebook that his country stands by its commitment to friendship and to the ceasefire understanding reached in Kuala Lumpur late last month.

In Phnom Penh, the head of the Documentation Center of Cambodia said Thailand’s military and government have never fully respected the Kuala Lumpur agreement. Thai officials have responded that Cambodia has not met its own commitments under the joint statement.

China has urged both sides to show restraint. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing on November 13 that China hopes Cambodia and Thailand will avoid actions that could worsen the situation and will continue efforts to ease tensions.

Cambodia has warned Thailand that it will not compromise its sovereignty or national dignity, following what Phnom Penh describes as deliberate attacks by Thai armed forces on Cambodian civilians near the border in Banteay Meanchey province.

In a statement issued on November 12 and released publicly today, the Cambodian Senate said the shooting in Prey Chan village was a clear violation of international law that could not be disputed. The statement described the Thai military’s actions as an assault on Cambodian civilians and an infringement on the country’s sovereignty, calling it an act of aggression that it considered deeply reprehensible.

The statement said the incident also violated international humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

The Senate added that Thailand had not only made unfounded accusations against Cambodia but had acted as judge, jury, and executioner by deciding unilaterally who was right and who was wrong. It warned that any attempt to endanger peaceful Cambodian civilians would be met with what it called the strongest possible protection of national sovereignty.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence said today that Thai forces opened fire twice on civilians in Prey Chan village in O Bei Choan commune, O Chrou district. The ministry said the first round of gunfire occurred at around 3.50 pm and the second at 5.54 pm. According to the ministry, the attacks left three people injured and one person dead at the scene.

Thailand’s newspaper The Nation reported today that on November 12, gunfire was heard for more than ten minutes in Nong Ya Kaeo subdistrict in Sa Kaeo province. The report said Cambodian media and social networks had incorrectly claimed that Thai soldiers had initiated an attack on civilians in Prey Chan village that injured five people.

Cambodia’s defence minister, Tea Seiha, said the government remained committed to resolving disputes through peaceful means under international law and existing agreements. He called for an independent investigation into the incident and urged foreign experts to participate to determine the facts and provide justice for the Cambodian victims.

Tea Seiha also called on Thailand to immediately end what he described as hostile actions that threaten peace and stability in the region and to respect ceasefire arrangements, joint peace statements, and obligations under international law.

Thailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, says his country has already handled the recent deadly shooting on the Cambodian border in its own way, insisting that Thai forces acted appropriately during the incident that left Cambodian civilians injured and dead.

Thai Enquirer reported that Anutin spoke on November 14, saying the exchange of fire near Prey Chan village the day before was part of the duties of Thai soldiers who were protecting national territory. He said Thailand had no intention of provoking conflict but would not allow any threat to its sovereignty.

Anutin added that while Thailand hopes for peace, it must still prepare for war. He said the military has been given full authority since the day he took office. The report also said Thai authorities have prepared evacuation plans and that troops have been equipped with strategies supported by the government.

In Cambodia, Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said ASEAN Observers arrived on November 13 at a shelter for residents from Prey Chan who had fled after what she described as unprovoked fire by Thai soldiers on Cambodian civilians. She said the observers also visited the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Hospital in Mongkol Borei district in Banteay Meanchey province, where three injured civilians were being treated and one person had been confirmed dead at the scene.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned the use of force on November 12, calling the Thai military’s actions against civilians unacceptable. He urged Thailand to stop using force against Cambodian residents in Prey Chan immediately and to avoid using military power to resolve border disagreements. He said Thailand’s actions ran counter to humanitarian principles.

Hun Manet said Cambodia remained committed to a peaceful resolution in line with the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement issued on October 26, 2025, which called for de-escalation and a return to dialogue between the two countries.

Cambodia’s Human Rights Committee said on November 12 that it had submitted complaints to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, the regional OHCHR office in Bangkok, ASEAN’s independent human rights institution, and the ASEAN chair regarding what it described as the Thai military’s attack on Cambodian civilians.

Cambodian observers are calling on the government to file an urgent complaint against Thailand at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following Bangkok’s decision to withdraw from the recently signed peace agreement between the two neighbors.

Men Nat, head of the Cambodia Watch Council, wrote on Facebook that Cambodia should take immediate diplomatic and legal steps in response to Thailand’s cancellation of the peace accord, which had been signed under the watch of the United States and Malaysia. He urged the government to submit an official complaint to the ICJ using key historical documents, including the Franco–Siam Treaty and the attached French maps that define the border, along with the Kuala Lumpur peace agreement and reports from both the International Observation Team (IOT) and the ASEAN Observation Team (AOT).

Men Nat also called on the Cambodian government to engage the United States and Malaysia, whose prime ministers witnessed the peace deal, and to pressure Thailand through high-level diplomatic channels to return to compliance with the accord.

The move follows a statement by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, reported by The Nation on November 11, announcing that Thailand had revoked all four key provisions of the Kuala Lumpur joint declaration with Cambodia, saying his government would now “fully support military operations for national security.”

Social development researcher Meas Nee wrote on Facebook that Cambodia must heighten its defenses in response to what he described as Thailand’s “provocative and unpredictable actions.” He warned that the situation now poses greater danger than during the five-day border clash in late July.

Meanwhile, former Khmer Rouge tribunal lawyer Kang Rithkiry said Thailand has used Cambodia’s calls for peace as a political weapon since the signing of the Kuala Lumpur peace deal in late October. He noted that border tensions have escalated sharply after the Thai prime minister’s recent visit to China, suggesting that Beijing’s tacit approval may have emboldened Bangkok’s latest moves.

Observers say the fragile calm along the Cambodia–Thailand frontier has now shifted toward a dangerous new phase, where diplomacy and restraint will determine whether the two countries can avoid renewed confrontation.

A senior opposition figure has warned that armed conflict between Cambodia and Thailand could erupt again, saying the recent peace declaration between the two countries lacks legal force and cannot prevent further hostilities.

Mut Chantha, former chief of cabinet for the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, wrote on Facebook that the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement between Cambodia and Thailand is “not a treaty or formal agreement” with binding legal power. He argued that because it was never registered with the United Nations or ratified by national legislatures, it does not carry the weight of international law or provide any enforcement mechanism for violations.

He added that Thailand’s political system complicates matters further, as the military wields significant power over border policy, while the Thai monarchy retains ultimate authority. Chantha said nationalist factions in Thailand are exploiting border tensions as a political weapon to attack domestic rivals, especially the Shinawatra family.

The opposition figure also highlighted the geopolitical divide, noting that Thailand remains a long-standing U.S. ally, while Cambodia’s ruling establishment continues to view Washington with suspicion, rooted in Cold War-era animosities following the 1970 coup that overthrew King Norodom Sihanouk.

Thailand’s Khaosod newspaper reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced his government will no longer adhere to the four key provisions outlined in the Kuala Lumpur peace declaration, saying Thailand will now “define its own course of action.”

Meanwhile, The Washington Post quoted a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department as saying that President Donald Trump remains committed to ending the ongoing violence and expects both Cambodia and Thailand to “fully honor their pledge to resolve conflicts peacefully” under the joint peace agreement signed recently.

Observers say the situation underscores how fragile the diplomatic calm between the two countries has become, with shifting alliances and domestic politics threatening to push the border dispute back toward confrontation.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense has strongly denied allegations by the Thai military claiming that Cambodian forces recently planted new landmines along the border. The ministry said the recent explosion that injured Thai soldiers occurred in an area still contaminated with old mines left over from Cambodia’s civil war.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said in a statement that the November 10 explosion, which wounded several Thai soldiers, happened after they entered an old minefield inside Cambodian territory. She emphasized that the incident had nothing to do with any new military activity, but was the result of unexploded ordnance from decades past.

The spokesperson noted that despite years of clearance operations, remnants of war continue to endanger civilians in many parts of Cambodia and neighboring countries, particularly in border zones. She reaffirmed that since joining the Ottawa Convention, Cambodia has fully complied with its international obligations and has never laid new mines that could threaten human life or peace.

Maly Socheata urged Thai troops to avoid entering known mine-contaminated areas, especially zones recognized by international agencies as legacy minefields, to prevent further accidents that could escalate tensions between the two countries.

Earlier today, Thailand’s The Nation newspaper quoted Thai army spokesman Winthai Suvaree as saying that Cambodian troops had “secretly planted new mines” in the Huai Ta Maria area, injuring four Thai soldiers during a patrol. He described the incident as a serious violation of the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Peace Declaration.

Thai reports claimed the blast was caused by newly planted mines, calling it a “clear breach of the peace accord” and “a sign of renewed hostility.”

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Khaosod newspaper reported that on November 11, the Thai National Security Council approved the suspension of the joint peace declaration and authorized military operations, urging Cambodia to take responsibility for the incident.

Reuters quoted Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow as saying that Thailand would brief the United States and Malaysia on its decision to suspend the agreement following the mine explosion.

In response, The Star cited Malaysian Armed Forces Commander Mohd Nizam Jaffar, who warned that halting the peace agreement could raise tensions between Cambodia and Thailand to dangerous levels reminiscent of past border clashes. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s firm commitment to maintaining the peace process and continuing efforts toward a lasting ceasefire.

Observers say Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni’s recent decision to hand over two royal estates to Prime Minister Hun Manet was a deliberate move to safeguard the monarchy’s heritage and ensure the people remember the legacy of both the late King Father and the current monarch.

Social commentator Vorn Chanlout wrote on Facebook that the gesture demonstrates a model of leadership that prioritizes the nation and its citizens over personal gain. He added that if Phnom Penh’s ruling elite had a sense of conscience, they might follow the King’s example by returning assets acquired through corruption and criminal activities to the state.

Vorn Chanlout described the King as “the most humble monarch in the world,” saying that not only is he incomparable to other kings, but that even Cambodia’s most powerful political figures cannot match his moral example.

On November 8, 2025, King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree granting Prime Minister Hun Manet stewardship over two royal estates in Phnom Penh, instructing the government to preserve and convert them into national museums and heritage sites.

According to the royal decree, the Taksina royal estate, covering 2,843 square meters, and the Pokkul royal estate, spanning 3,539 square meters, are both located in Village 3, Chatomuk commune, Daun Penh district. The King ordered the government to maintain and renovate these sites for future generations after his passing.

Following the royal decision, Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet jointly expressed their gratitude, praising the King for his continued generosity toward the nation. Their statement emphasized that King Sihamoni has consistently contributed his own resources for the welfare of the Cambodian people.

Article 7 of Cambodia’s Constitution states that the King “reigns but does not govern” and serves as Head of State for life. The monarch is inviolable and cannot be accused or prosecuted.

However, the relationship between the royal palace and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party has not always been smooth. In 2018, Hun Sen publicly criticized the King in a dispute involving the Royal Group’s CNC television station, declaring that he feared neither the company’s owner, Kith Meng, nor the Queen Mother herself, insisting that “even she could not protect him.”

The latest royal gesture, observers say, reflects a deeper effort by the monarchy to reinforce its cultural and historical role at a time when political power remains concentrated in the hands of the ruling family.

Senior Cambodian officials have rejected accusations from Thai authorities against prominent businessmen and senators Kok An and Ly Yong Phat, describing them as fabricated and politically motivated.

Former Information Minister and current member of the Supreme Privy Council to the King, Khieu Kanharith, wrote on Facebook that after Thai authorities targeted Kok An and his relatives, they are now pursuing Ly Yong Phat and his son, Chokchai Suphapa. He said the move includes freezing assets, seizing homes and bank accounts held by Ly Yong Phat in Thailand, and issuing multiple charges.

Khieu Kanharith compared the current situation to what he called Thailand’s “hostile behavior” in the 1980s toward those who supported the People’s Republic of Kampuchea. He recalled that during that period, Cambodian officials and diplomats avoided flights passing through Thailand because of safety concerns. According to him, some feared Thai authorities could secretly plant illegal substances in their luggage to justify arrests at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport.

On November 9, the Khaosod newspaper reported that a Thai court had issued arrest warrants for Ly Yong Phat, a Cambodian senator and business magnate, along with five associates, on charges of conspiracy and money laundering. The report said investigators had found clear evidence linking them to online fraud networks. Thai authorities have since confiscated 36 properties, including three condominiums in Bangkok and land worth more than 400 million baht.

Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Chea Thyrith described the Thai court’s decision as “a politically charged maneuver.”

The controversy follows an earlier move on October 23, 2025, when Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office froze assets belonging to Ly Yong Phat, owner of L.Y.P Group, worth around 70 million baht, approximately 1.9 million US dollars, over alleged ties to an online scam ring.

Earlier this year, on July 8, Senate President Hun Sen said Thailand’s crackdown on online criminal networks should be viewed as part of regional efforts to reduce cross-border cybercrime, some of which has affected Cambodia.

Despite these statements, Cambodian officials maintain that the accusations against their senators are baseless and politically driven, accusing Thai authorities of attempting to tarnish Cambodia’s political and business figures.