UN, China Back Cambodia’s Call for Civilian Return

Cambodia has renewed demands for the safe return of more than 20,000 civilians displaced by last year’s border conflict with Thailand, citing support from the United Nations and China.

Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said the December 2025 ceasefire agreement promised not only an end to fighting but also the right of displaced people to go home “safely, voluntarily and with dignity”. He accused Thai forces of blocking access roads and destroying homes, undermining the deal.

Satellite images released by rights group LICADHO show more than 600 houses razed in three villages since the ceasefire, raising fresh concerns about violations of international law. “Civilian homes must not become targets or collateral damage in a border dispute,” the group said.

UN special rapporteur Thomas Andrews, who toured displacement sites last week, urged both governments to expedite the return of civilians. “It is a matter of international law that those displaced by armed conflict have the right to return to their homes,” he stressed. Chinese ambassador Wang Wenbin echoed the call, describing the hardship as temporary and reaffirming Beijing’s support for peace along the frontier.

The conflict, which escalated in 2025, displaced around 650,000 people. Most have since returned, but more than 20,000 remain in camps, unable to access their land. Cambodian officials insist peace cannot be complete until all civilians are allowed back.

With ASEAN observers monitoring the border and the Joint Boundary Commission urged to resume demarcation, the dispute remains unresolved. Diplomats warn that the longer Thai troops remain in contested villages, the harder it will be for displaced families to reclaim their homes.

-2026-08-09