Thai and Cambodian Journalists Meet to Bridge Border Divide

Nearly a year after fighting on the Thailand-Cambodia border, a ceasefire remains in place, but normal relations remain distant. Land crossings are still closed, distrust persists, and online hostility continues to shape public perceptions in both countries.

Against that backdrop, a Thai journalist met with Cambodianess editor-in-chief Sao Phal Niseiy in Bangkok last month for a rare cross-border discussion on how journalists can report the conflict without deepening the divide. The meeting was facilitated by the Bangkok-based Asia Centre, led by James Gomez, a Singaporean based in Bangkok who promotes democracy, human rights and peace in the region.

The three met for a fireside chat at a Bangkok hotel, with Gomez moderating. In an interview, Niseiy said that while strong public sentiments remain, the situation is not as bad as during the conflict. Tensions now erupt mainly through social media and media reports rather than actual interactions between ordinary people, and people continue to travel between the two countries by air despite closed land borders.

Niseiy expressed cautious optimism, saying that as long as a diplomatic breakthrough is pursued, armed clashes are prevented, and both sides show restraint, prospects for improving relations exist. However, he emphasized that changing public perception is essential, particularly by discouraging online slander, personal attacks and hatred that deepen animosity. He argued that this responsibility extends beyond governments to private citizens, especially those with influence over decision-making in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Niseiy warned that without action from all sides, the conflict will continue to hurt border communities and risk creating long-term, intergenerational animosity that hinders progress and harmony.