One Year After Thailand-Cambodia War, Building Bridges Over Walls
A year after an undeclared war killed nearly 150 people and displaced tens of thousands, Thailand and Cambodia remain locked in mutual distrust despite a fragile ceasefire, though civilian efforts to build cross-border understanding continu
This week marks one year since the beginning of the tragic and undeclared war between Thailand and Cambodia. Nearly 150 people, including civilians and soldiers from both sides, were killed during the two rounds of fighting, and their loved ones continue to grieve their losses.
The human and economic toll remains severe. Cambodian authorities report that tens of thousands of civilians remain displaced and unable to return home. In Thailand, at least 100,000 Cambodian migrant workers remain in legal limbo as the government refuses to renew their work permits, fearing nationalist backlash and inadvertently increasing their vulnerability to labour exploitation.
One year on, a zero-sum mentality persists on both sides of the border, with some refusing to acknowledge that compromise and accommodation are necessary for peaceful coexistence. A ceasefire remains in place, but tensions and mutual distrust continue.
The author argues that building bridges instead of walls—one step and one person at a time—is essential and need not wait for government action. Over the past year, the author has maintained channels of communication and moderation with Cambodians and others across the border, even as both nations descended into mutual hatred. The conflict represents a failure by both nations to resolve their border disputes peacefully and has damaged not only bilateral relations but also the economies of both countries and the goodwill between Thais and Khmers. Anti-Cambodian sentiment in Thailand was unleashed and manipulated to boost the stature of the military and conservative establishment, who exploited the conflict for political gain. Both countries remain trapped in a Cold War mentality.
