Border Conflict
• 1 hour ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
ASEAN Human Rights Forum Hears Cambodia's Plea for 20,000 Displaced Families
PHNOM PENH, July 23, 2026 – A humanitarian crisis unfolding along Cambodia's border with Thailand has taken centre stage at the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) special meeting in Manila, where Cambodia called for urgent international attention to the plight of over 20,000 displaced civilians.
The Cambodian delegation, led by H.E. Pa Punnarada, Deputy Representative to AICHR, told the forum that despite a ceasefire agreement signed on December 27, 2025, Thai military forces continue to prevent the return of displaced families through the installation of barbed wire, shipping containers, and illegal occupation of Cambodian territory.
Photo Credit: Cambodian Human Rights Committee
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Cambodian representative described the ongoing displacement as a serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights principles. He stressed that children, the elderly, and vulnerable communities have been left without proper access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods for nearly a year.
The delegation reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to the ceasefire agreement, particularly Item 4, which guarantees the safe and dignified return of affected civilians without obstruction.
"We cannot allow this injustice to continue," the Cambodian representative said, urging ASEAN members and the international community to take a firm stand and ensure that the rights of displaced civilians are fully respected.
— Source: Cambodian Human Rights Committee,
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The Cambodian delegation, led by H.E. Pa Punnarada, Deputy Representative to AICHR, told the forum that despite a ceasefire agreement signed on December 27, 2025, Thai military forces continue to prevent the return of displaced families through the installation of barbed wire, shipping containers, and illegal occupation of Cambodian territory.
Photo Credit: Cambodian Human Rights CommitteeHighlighting the gravity of the situation, the Cambodian representative described the ongoing displacement as a serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights principles. He stressed that children, the elderly, and vulnerable communities have been left without proper access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods for nearly a year.
The delegation reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to the ceasefire agreement, particularly Item 4, which guarantees the safe and dignified return of affected civilians without obstruction.
"We cannot allow this injustice to continue," the Cambodian representative said, urging ASEAN members and the international community to take a firm stand and ensure that the rights of displaced civilians are fully respected.
— Source: Cambodian Human Rights Committee,
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
