National
• 1 hour ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Displaced Cambodians Speak Out as Thai Occupation Continues
PHNOM PENH, September 4, 2026 – More than 20,000 Cambodians remain unable to return to their homes due to ongoing Thai military occupation of border villages, according to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The report captures the resilience and heartbreak of families who fled the December 2025 fighting and have not been able to return since. In the government-built "waiting villages" near the border, residents are attempting to rebuild their lives with coffee shops, salons, and grocery stores, while the area also includes a health centre and schools. But behind these efforts lies a deep longing for what was lost.
Im Chreab, 48, arrived in April and now runs a cafe. She said she is making good money but struggles emotionally when recalling her old life, which she built over three decades. She referred to the Thai soldiers occupying her village as "thieves." Keo Sotheary, 39, who runs a small cosmetics stall, also expressed her grief, saying she cannot hold back tears when speaking about the loss of her home.
Six "waiting villages" have been built on land donated by Cambodia's former commander-in-chief, Ke Kim Yan. The government provides subsidies for electricity and water, as well as free school meals. During a visit in June, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodia's former leader, announced that residents would receive land titles, indicating they may stay for some time.
During a visit last month, AFP journalists saw the road to the residents' old village of Boeung Trakuon blocked by shipping containers and barbed wire installed by Thai forces. In other villages, they documented damaged homes with bullet holes, abandoned toys, and an 80 mm rocket still stuck in a road. Commune chief Tol Sarin said some homes were destroyed by the Thai army, while others were bombed, leaving villagers unable to return. Rights group Licadho, citing satellite imagery, reported that Thai forces destroyed more than 600 homes and other structures after the ceasefire.
Photo: TANG CHHIN Sothy via Yahoo news
The Cambodian government has built more than 3,000 new houses and provided essential services, but residents say nothing can replace their original homes. Some have expressed concerns about their long-term livelihoods, noting that the village's location among open farmland limits their ability to sell produce. Kun Sytha, who left Chouk Chey after her family's home was cleared by the Thai army, has set up a small grocery shop while her husband sells sugarcane juice. She said they are building a new life but remain uncertain about the future.
AFP joins a growing list of international media that have documented the crisis. United Nations Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews has affirmed the displaced families' right to return, but Thailand insists the area is Thai territory. The December 2025 ceasefire was supposed to bring peace, but for more than 20,000 Cambodians, it has become a broken promise. They continue to wait, hoping for the day they can finally return home.
— Sources:
Yahoo News
H.E Neth Pheaktra:
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The report captures the resilience and heartbreak of families who fled the December 2025 fighting and have not been able to return since. In the government-built "waiting villages" near the border, residents are attempting to rebuild their lives with coffee shops, salons, and grocery stores, while the area also includes a health centre and schools. But behind these efforts lies a deep longing for what was lost.
Im Chreab, 48, arrived in April and now runs a cafe. She said she is making good money but struggles emotionally when recalling her old life, which she built over three decades. She referred to the Thai soldiers occupying her village as "thieves." Keo Sotheary, 39, who runs a small cosmetics stall, also expressed her grief, saying she cannot hold back tears when speaking about the loss of her home.
Six "waiting villages" have been built on land donated by Cambodia's former commander-in-chief, Ke Kim Yan. The government provides subsidies for electricity and water, as well as free school meals. During a visit in June, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodia's former leader, announced that residents would receive land titles, indicating they may stay for some time.
During a visit last month, AFP journalists saw the road to the residents' old village of Boeung Trakuon blocked by shipping containers and barbed wire installed by Thai forces. In other villages, they documented damaged homes with bullet holes, abandoned toys, and an 80 mm rocket still stuck in a road. Commune chief Tol Sarin said some homes were destroyed by the Thai army, while others were bombed, leaving villagers unable to return. Rights group Licadho, citing satellite imagery, reported that Thai forces destroyed more than 600 homes and other structures after the ceasefire.
Photo: TANG CHHIN Sothy via Yahoo newsThe Cambodian government has built more than 3,000 new houses and provided essential services, but residents say nothing can replace their original homes. Some have expressed concerns about their long-term livelihoods, noting that the village's location among open farmland limits their ability to sell produce. Kun Sytha, who left Chouk Chey after her family's home was cleared by the Thai army, has set up a small grocery shop while her husband sells sugarcane juice. She said they are building a new life but remain uncertain about the future.
AFP joins a growing list of international media that have documented the crisis. United Nations Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews has affirmed the displaced families' right to return, but Thailand insists the area is Thai territory. The December 2025 ceasefire was supposed to bring peace, but for more than 20,000 Cambodians, it has become a broken promise. They continue to wait, hoping for the day they can finally return home.
— Sources:
Yahoo News
H.E Neth Pheaktra:
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
