Cambodians Pray for Peace Amid Thai Tensions

Cambodia’s Buddhist leaders have led nationwide prayers to honour fallen soldiers and call for peace, as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of weeks of cross-border attacks by the Thai military.

On Monday, ceremonies were held across provinces and in Phnom Penh, where monks and citizens gathered at Wat Botum and the Win-Win Monument. Chanting, meditation and merit-making rituals were dedicated to soldiers who died defending the nation, while messages of unity and compassion were shared with the public.

Senior Monk Venerable Kou Sopheap urged both Cambodians and Thais to embrace dialogue over violence, stressing that hatred only fuels further conflict. “Let us practise the teachings of the Buddha: compassion, kindness, humility, and forbearance. May we all be safe and happy,” he told the crowd.

The prayers come after 21 days of Thai shelling, artillery strikes and air raids that left 32 civilians dead, 95 injured, and more than 610,000 people displaced. Homes, infrastructure and historic temples were destroyed before a ceasefire was agreed on 27 December. While some refugees have begun returning, many remain hesitant, fearing renewed clashes and the dangers of unexploded ordnance.

Venerable Khim Sorn, Third Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Mohanikaya order, said the ceremonies were a clear signal to the international community that Cambodia “wants peace, needs peace, and sincerely seeks to end the war quickly through dialogue, diplomacy, international law, and humanitarian principles.”

Yet uncertainty lingers. Eighteen Cambodian soldiers remain in Thai custody despite a joint statement pledging their release by today. Families wait anxiously for news, as the fragile ceasefire deadline passes without confirmation.

For many Cambodians, the prayers offered both solace and a collective voice against war. Venerable Chim Ron of Kampong Chhnang province reminded citizens that religion cultivates compassion, not revenge, and called for patience and trust in national leadership.

As the country mourns its losses and honours its heroes, the message from Cambodia’s pagodas is clear: peace is not just a hope, but a necessity for the nation’s future.

-2025-12-31