Cambodia’s Senate president Hun Sen has declared that the country will not plead with Thailand to reopen their shared border, even if the closure lasts a century. His remarks, posted on social media on 23 September, mark a sharp shift in tone after months of official silence.

 

“Thailand can keep it closed for another 100 years, and Cambodia will not perish,” Hun Sen wrote, stressing that Cambodia would never initiate negotiations. He added that Cambodia would reopen its side within five hours of Thailand doing so, but only after Thailand makes the first move.

 

The border has remained shut since a unilateral decision by the Thai military three months ago. Hun Sen explained that he had avoided comment to prevent escalation, prioritising peace and the safety of civilians.

 

He credited the closure with boosting Cambodia’s domestic economy, noting that the absence of Thai imports has led to increased support for locally produced goods. “Markets remain stable, inflation is low, and the macroeconomy is well-managed,” he said.

 

Japan has proposed reopening select crossings to support trade, especially given its investments in both countries. Hun Sen welcomed the idea but urged Japan to coordinate with Thailand, as Cambodia has already approved the move.

 

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha suspended a senior border police officer, Lieutenant Colonel Pov Rithy, over alleged involvement in smuggling banned Thai goods. Legal proceedings are now underway.

 

Hun Sen concluded with a call for patience and peace: “We cannot use war to end a war.” His statement underscores Cambodia’s resolve to stand firm, even as diplomatic tensions linger.

 

 

-2025-09-24

Words of peace from the man who started it all.

This will never be resolved on peaceful terms. Both sides want it all. Cambodia is holding most of the cards imo. 

 

Temples acknowledged as Khmer decades and decades ago. Sour grapes Thailand never accepted Khmer temples belong to Khmer people.

 

The temples are Khmer and should be considered Cambodian soil. Thailand can have access. Bits of random territory could be ceded to Thailand if need be.

 

If Thailand had better relationship with the US and could convince it to cut trade that would help Thailand's side.

 

China could also help, but is closer to Cambodia than Thailand. 

22 minutes ago, TonmaiYai said:

This will never be resolved on peaceful terms. Both sides want it all. Cambodia is holding most of the cards imo. 

 

Temples acknowledged as Khmer decades and decades ago. Sour grapes Thailand never accepted Khmer temples belong to Khmer people.

 

The temples are Khmer and should be considered Cambodian soil. Thailand can have access. Bits of random territory could be ceded to Thailand if need be.

 

If Thailand had better relationship with the US and could convince it to cut trade that would help Thailand's side.

 

China could also help, but is closer to Cambodia than Thailand. 

Cambodia is weak, their army is pathetic, they don’t have modern weapons, no F16 or Gripen jets, so they definitely do not have the upper hand ! Delusional thinking!

4 minutes ago, zepplin said:

Cambodia is weak, their army is pathetic, they don’t have modern weapons, no F16 or Gripen jets, so they definitely do not have the upper hand ! Delusional thinking!

Well the way thailand keeps shooting themselves in the foot all the tourists might go to cambodia instead and the tides will turn

34 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Words of peace from the man who started it all.

The final votes are in and it's down to the last two for the Nobel Peace Award. Hun Sen from Cambodia and Donald Trump from the USA. Either will be unlucky if they're not named the winner.

3 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Well the way thailand keeps shooting themselves in the foot all the tourists might go to cambodia instead and the tides will turn

Don't worry about Cambodia having less power if a conflict were to break out. If major nations were to take sides then it could be Vietnam MK2. The US believed they were the super power in Vietnam and look what happened to them.

55 minutes ago, TonmaiYai said:

Temples acknowledged as Khmer decades and decades ago. Sour grapes Thailand never accepted Khmer temples belong to Khmer people.

 

The temples are Khmer and should be considered Cambodian soil.

(1) Half of Isaan is made up mostly of Thai Khmers. My own family here in Surin are Khmers from a Khmer village in Phanom Dong Rak. My FIL (2.5 years older than me) barely speaks Thai, the rest of the family including my b/f with a heavy accent. They go to Khmer temples. But they are not amused when Cambodian shells start landing on their village yet again (the Khmer Rouge used to arrive  4 or so decades ago to steal the villagers' livestock).

 

(2) If all Khmer temples are to become Cambodian then the west-east border will have to move at least 100kms further north ... Dream on!

Those casinos in Poipet must be hurtin' for certain.

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

(1) Half of Isaan is made up mostly of Thai Khmers. My own family here in Surin are Khmers from a Khmer village in Phanom Dong Rak. My FIL (2.5 years older than me) barely speaks Thai, the rest of the family including my b/f with a heavy accent. They go to Khmer temples. But they are not amused when Cambodian shells start landing on their village yet again (the Khmer Rouge used to arrive  4 or so decades ago to steal the villagers' livestock).

 

(2) If all Khmer temples are to become Cambodian then the west-east border will have to move at least 100kms further north ... Dream on!

Wiki reckons there's 1.4m khmer speakers out of 21.3m people in isaan, with the 13m laos speakers being the largest group, but I agree with your comments on how your Thai relations relate to being khmer and speaking predominantly khmer. My Thai relatives are Phu Thai speakers and relate to being Laos, but compared to when I first visited their village 30 years ago, now nearly all speak Phu Thai AND Bkk Thai (when they have to).

 

The furthest northern khmer building in Thailand I would guess is up in Sakhon Nakhon.

 

Anyone who has actually visited the area of Prasat Preah Vihear (Khao Phra Viharn), can see that LOGICALLY, based on the watershed line, the temple is on the cliff top and should be classed as in Thailand (Thailand top of the cliff, Cambodia below the cliff), but the infamous French map put the temple in Cambodia. 

 

If we apply Cambodian logic of Cambodian khmers built the temples so they're Cambodian property, to the UK, the UK would be claiming possession of buildings all over the world as the UK built them - ridiculous Cambodian logic.

 

Based on the Cambodians trying to sneak back over the border in to Thailand, things ain't great in Cambodia for the average Cambodian, but Hun Sen probably isn't aware or if he is aware isn't interested in the average Cambodian.

4 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Words of peace from the man who started it all.

 

Wrong - it was Thailand that started it all.

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Wrong - it was Thailand that started it all.

Lol. Do you think repeating the same lie over and over will eventually convince people on here it's true?

I understand history is written by the winners, and with that, here is what we have regarding who started this;

 

"The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, particularly around the Preah Vihear Temple, stems from colonial-era Franco-Siamese Treaties of the early 20th century and resurfaced in 2008 and again in 2025 after Cambodia's UNESCO World Heritage nomination for the temple and subsequent nationalist protests in Thailand. While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled the temple belonged to Cambodia in 1962 and reaffirmed this in 2013, unresolved issues over the precise border demarcation and disputed areas led to sporadic military clashes, casualties, and diplomatic fallout. Recent escalations in 2025 involved landmine incidents and diplomatic tension from a leaked phone call between political leaders."

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Wrong - it was Thailand that started it all.

How so?

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

How so?

 During a minor skirmish at the border on 28th May 2025, a Cambodian soldier was sadly shot dead by Thai soldiers, prompting increased tensions. On 16th July 2025 two Thai soldiers were injured when they stepped on landmines prompting the Thai military to accuse Cambodia for the current problems. This landmine incident was 50 days AFTER the shooting of the Khmer soldier.

(reference Google) 

No further comment from me.

12 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Words of peace from the man who started it all.

But that is all it is, just words.  Meanwhile the  tensions along the border are increasing. Plenty on the news yesterday and more today about military movements in the area and some reports of gun shots and sounds of artillery fire. Advice in our village, in Kap Choeng, is pack a bag ready just in case,    My missis is in full panic mode ...again, but there again she gets informed from facebook (sigh)

Seems that Phanom Dong Rak in Surin and Kantharalak in Srisaket  are the current hot spots,

nothing on google about it last time I looked

5 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

But that is all it is, just words.  Meanwhile the  tensions along the border are increasing. Plenty on the news yesterday and more today about military movements in the area and some reports of gun shots and sounds of artillery fire. Advice in our village, in Kap Choeng, is pack a bag ready just in case,    My missis is in full panic mode ...again, but there again she gets informed from facebook (sigh)

Seems that Phanom Dong Rak in Surin and Kantharalak in Srisaket  are the current hot spots,

nothing on google about it last time I looked

Yes, my family in Phanom Dong Rak in a panic every couple of days. I told them to calm down: If it's just small arms fire or a mine blowing off a soldier's leg, that's not their problem. Only pack & ring for car & floor here in Prasat to sleep & eat on when the shells start coming in ( as a few weeks ago).

12 hours ago, zepplin said:

Cambodia is weak, their army is pathetic, they don’t have modern weapons, no F16 or Gripen jets, so they definitely do not have the upper hand ! Delusional thinking!

               That may be true , but it is in itself somewhat worrying.    Hun Sen may be many things but to survive as he has in his position for so long means he certainly isn't stupid. 

              What's he planning?

18 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 During a minor skirmish at the border on 28th May 2025, a Cambodian soldier was sadly shot dead by Thai soldiers, prompting increased tensions. On 16th July 2025 two Thai soldiers were injured when they stepped on landmines prompting the Thai military to accuse Cambodia for the current problems. This landmine incident was 50 days AFTER the shooting of the Khmer soldier.

(reference Google) 

No further comment from me.

 

You need to go back a bit further than 28 May 2025 to see which side started it. Here you go:

 

13 February 2025: A Cambodian protest occurred at Prasat Ta Muen Thom.

25-28 February 2025: Cambodian troops were observed clearing roads in the Sam Yaek Lao area.

15-25 March 2025: Cambodian forces constructed a road to Phnom Prasitthi hilltop, directly opposite the Thai Khao Sattasom position, and commenced heavy fortification of the base.

7-22 April 2025: Thai troops responded by clearing and constructing a new road straddling the border near Prasat Ta Muen Thom, extending from the temple to a road junction.

18 May 2025: Thai troops in Chong Bok discovered fortifications being dug in an area overlapping existing claims near Hill 745. Cambodian troops subsequently pulled back upon request.

28 May 2025: Thai soldiers approached Cambodian troops digging fortifications, leading to a brief exchange of fire that resulted in the death of one Cambodian Officer.

 

No further comment needed eh.

On 9/25/2025 at 2:40 AM, mfd101 said:

Words of peace from the man who started it all.

The Thai military started all this – as they want to take over running the country.

 

they cleared or evacuated. huge areas near the border so no-one can see what they do

They control most of the media anyway.

The military have closed the borders – the government has not said a thing, as it is out of their control.

The military has declared martial law all over the region – basically it has all the characteristics of a coup.

In the meantime they've dismissed all politicians opposed to them.

they also have no regard for the effects this is having on tourism

Their only goal is to reassert themselves as the single and most powerful entity in the country.

 

On 9/25/2025 at 2:40 AM, mfd101 said:

Words of peace from the man who started it all.

 

4 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

 

You need to go back a bit further than 28 May 2025 to see which side started it. Here you go:

 

13 February 2025: A Cambodian protest occurred at Prasat Ta Muen Thom.

25-28 February 2025: Cambodian troops were observed clearing roads in the Sam Yaek Lao area.

15-25 March 2025: Cambodian forces constructed a road to Phnom Prasitthi hilltop, directly opposite the Thai Khao Sattasom position, and commenced heavy fortification of the base.

7-22 April 2025: Thai troops responded by clearing and constructing a new road straddling the border near Prasat Ta Muen Thom, extending from the temple to a road junction.

18 May 2025: Thai troops in Chong Bok discovered fortifications being dug in an area overlapping existing claims near Hill 745. Cambodian troops subsequently pulled back upon request.

28 May 2025: Thai soldiers approached Cambodian troops digging fortifications, leading to a brief exchange of fire that resulted in the death of one Cambodian Officer.

 

No further comment needed eh.

 

 

The roots of Thai–Cambodian tensions go back centuries, shaped by shifting influence between Siam and the Khmer Empire. The Franco–Siamese Treaty of 1907, imposed during the colonial era, defined much of today’s border but left areas around sites like Preah Vihear Temple contested. The 1962 ICJ ruling awarding the temple to Cambodia, together with nationalist politics on both sides, has kept these disputes alive. What we see today is not a new problem but part of a long cycle of history, treaties, and unresolved rivalries.