Displaced Cambodians face new tensions with Thai victory in elections

In Banteay Meanchey province, six weeks after a ceasefire ended fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border, thousands of displaced Cambodians remain in limbo. Proeung Sopheap, a 59-year-old woman visiting her abandoned home in the village of Prey Chan to collect belongings and utensils for the first time since December’s clashes, expressed hope for peace: “I don’t know what led to this fighting; like other Cambodians, I want peace not war.”

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul won a landslide victory on a platform that includes building a wall at their shared frontier. When Reuters visited the area, most locals said they were unaware of the election and its implications for their lives in Banteay Meanchey province.

Pich Vorn from nearby Chouk Chey village expressed his desire to return home: “I just want my house and land back.” The worst fighting since 2010 has left Sopheap’s Prey Chan village divided, with Thai authorities claiming parts of it are in Thailand. Barbed wire fencing now surrounds the area, reinforced by shipping containers. On the Cambodian side, officials estimate that over 80% of homes and land are inaccessible.

Thailand claims all residents have returned home since fighting ended; however, about 4,600 people still live in temporary shelters on the Cambodian side. Thailand’s statement asserts this border barrier “enhances safety and security” according to a December joint declaration.

The border clashes claimed at least 149 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands along an 817-kilometre-long frontier since July. Both sides have accused each other of aggression over decades-old territorial disputes. The Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, bears the scars of this latest conflict, with bullet holes, dents, and unexploded ordnance scattered across it.

Cambodia has submitted damage reports to UNESCO for stabilization efforts in severely affected areas. Meanwhile, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre clears cluster munitions and artillery shells. Ean Sothea, demining manager on the Cambodian side, noted closing more than 40 schools as a priority over reopening hospitals and homes of residents returning from the border.

In contrast, the Thai side lost a soldier who suffered an amputated limb after stepping on a landmine in Sisaket province last month. Landmines have played a significant role in catalyzing recent skirmishes, with at least 12 Thai soldiers injured since July.