More than half a million Cambodians have fled their homes after two weeks of deadly clashes with Thailand, the interior ministry in Phnom Penh confirmed on Sunday. The fighting, which reignited earlier this month, has already killed at least 22 people in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia.

 

The conflict centres on a long‑running territorial dispute along the 800‑kilometre frontier, where colonial‑era boundaries and ancient temple ruins remain contested. Cambodia says 518,611 of its citizens, including women and children, have been forced to abandon homes and schools to escape artillery fire, rockets and air strikes from Thai F‑16s. Thailand reports around 400,000 of its own people have also been displaced.

 

Each side accuses the other of sparking the latest violence, which follows a brief truce in July that collapsed within days. Tanks, drones and heavy artillery have been deployed, with civilians caught in the crossfire.

 

International mediation has so far failed to halt the bloodshed. The United States, China and Malaysia brokered a ceasefire earlier this year, but it quickly unravelled. In October, US President Donald Trump backed a joint declaration to prolong the truce, only for Bangkok to suspend the deal weeks later after soldiers were wounded by landmines. Cambodia denied laying new mines, but tensions escalated again.

 

Since 7 December, fighting has flared daily, including near the 900‑year‑old Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been a flashpoint before. Sporadic clashes there in 2008 claimed two dozen lives, until a UN court ruling in 2013 awarded the land to Cambodia.

 

Diplomatic efforts continue. ASEAN foreign ministers, including those from Thailand and Cambodia, meet in Kuala Lumpur on Monday in hopes of brokering peace. China’s special envoy Deng Xijun visited both capitals last week, urging restraint. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington hopes for a ceasefire “by Monday or Tuesday”.

 

For now, the violence shows little sign of easing. With both sides entrenched and civilians bearing the brunt, the crisis threatens to spiral further, testing regional diplomacy and leaving hundreds of thousands in limbo.

 

-2025-12-22

They really don't care about the Don getting his Peace Prize, do they? 

Follow orders guys. 

takes the conflict to a new area

 

In a recent policy shift, Cambodia has implemented a ban preventing its citizens from visiting Thailand for non-emergency reasons. This move has sparked confusion and discontent among travelers, as many are left questioning the rationale behind the decision and the impact it will have on their freedom to travel. The policy, which has left both the public and travel industry in a state of uncertainty, raises concerns about its long-term effects on cross-border relationships and tourism.

A recent incident at Siem Reap International Airport has raised concerns about travel restrictions between Cambodia and Thailand. The situation unfolded when several Cambodian passengers, including some traveling with their Western partners, were denied boarding on an Emirates Airlines flight bound for Bangkok and continuing onward to Dubai. The reason cited by immigration officials was that Cambodian citizens are no longer permitted to travel to Thailand for leisure purposes, except in cases of emergency.

This decision has caused confusion and frustration among travelers, as it came on the heels of the full closure of the land border between Cambodia and Thailand. While the Cambodian government has not formally declared a full travel ban between the two countries, this incident has added to the growing concerns about the state of cross-border travel. It also raises questions about whether the Cambodian government’s policies are aligned with the statements made by its leadership.

 

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/in-a-new-policy-cambodia-stops-its-citizens-from-visiting-thailand-for-non-emergency-reasons-sparking-confusion-and-discontent-among-travelers/