From The Thai Side, Thai-Cambodian War Is Deeply Informed by ‘Thai Nationalist History’

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15 December 2025, 16:18

thai cam history — A 17th-century painting by Dutch cartographer Johannes Vingboons depicting the city of Longvek.

A prominent senior social activist, Khun Chainarong Setthachua, posted on Facebook yesterday asking:

“…Why is Thai civil society, NGOs, and social activists relatively quiet about the border war? Or do they agree with the war?”

I responded: “The extreme nationalism instilled in schools since childhood—the fact that you managed to break free from it means you are exceptional. You should be asking yourself how you managed to get out of this parochial and nationalist mindset.”

Today, I would like to elaborate: Thai students are taught a single version of national history where Thailand is the protagonist:

Burma (Myanmar) is the aggressor (despite Ayutthaya’s support for the Mon people was a major reason why Burma launched military campaigns against Ayutthaya which led to the first Fall of Ayutthaya);
Various Malay (and Lao) city-states were intermittently rebellious and required suppression, including the burning of Vientiane; the Khmers (Cambodians) are portrayed as “cunning and untrustworthy”;
The Western superpowers, which back then were Great Britain and France, carved away territories under Siam’s control that today became Laos, the northern states of Malaysia, the southern part of Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Simply put, Siam was once a mini imperial power in the region, acting like a big shot in the neighborhood who was then pressured by Britain and France, who snatched away territories that were loyal (or rather compelled to appear loyal) to Bangkok, caused France blamed for causing the problematic border demarcation between Thailand and Cambodia today.

Therefore, it is ‘not surprising’ that the majority of Thais today genuinely believe that we are still the protagonist, the righteous party, and that ‘Khmers are Khmers’— “cunning and untrustworthy” as always, just like in the era of Khmer sovereign Phraya Lawek (Nac Preah Sattha or Nak Preah Sattha) over four centuries ago.

Interestingly enough, the memories among Khmers today regarding that Lovek era of Cambodia is that Cambodians are taught that Thais couldn’t penetrate the well-built citadel, and eventually resorted to the trick by firing metal money into the bamboo fortress and retreated. The Khmer villagers eventually cleared the forest and were subsequently attacked.

“The episode shows Thai cunningness and Khmer naïveté and reminded Cambodians not to be fooled again and careful about Thai intentions,” a prominent Cambodian scholar wrote to me this morning upon reading the draft of this article on my Facebook page.

I told the Cambodian scholar, Prof Deth Sok Udom, a Professor of International Relations and the author of “A History of Cambodia-Thailand Diplomatic Relations, 1950-2020” that Yes, Thais remember that historical episode but was construed inThai history as “our ingenious tactic” however.

This led to my request for the Cambodian scholar to elaborate on the historical episode from the Cambodian collective memories.

“According to the Cambodian chronicles, in earlier attacks, the Siamese couldn’t penetrate the well-built Lovek fortress. Cambodia’s chronicles mentioned that before his army retreated, [Thai King] Naresuan ordered his soldiers to fire silver coins from cannons into the thick bamboo forest, which was a source of strong protection for the capital of Longvek.

Once they withdrew, Cambodian people and soldiers started to clear the forest in a search for the silver coins. In the Khmer collective memory, the episode demonstrates Thai trickery and Khmer naiveté and reminded Cambodians not to be fooled again and be careful about Thai intentions.

“In reality, there are numerous factors also that the chronicles mentioned (as elaborated by Cambodian scholar Kimly Ngoun):

“The collapse of Longvek (in 1594), based on Cambodian chronicles, came from several causes. These included the strong and larger number of the Siamese forces, the loss of the thick bamboo forest that protected the city, and the anger and disappointment among local people and the King’s officials at King Satha’s inappropriate acts.

At the end of his reign, King Satha had crowned two of his young sons as kings while he himself was only in his late thirties. This caused disappointment among some of his officials and ordinary people.

The King’s admission of two male Thai spies disguised as Buddhist monks known by the names Tepanhao and Sophanhao into his palace in Longvek, and his destruction of Teverak statues (the local, magical god who protects the districts or kingdom) at the suggestion from the two fake monks, angered the people and his officials even more.

In addition, the loss of the thick and strong bamboo forest that had acted as the promising shield for the capital made the situation in the country even more chaotic. When occupying Lovek, the Siamese sacked and burnt the city. They destroyed everything that was immovable including various cult objects and statues which were worshipped by the Khmer […]

The destruction of Longvek and the removal of thousands of people including some royal family, intellectuals, skilled and religious men, precious texts, valuable things and statues to Siam were likely to have made Cambodia lose the necessary resources and manpower for rebuilding the country. The event of the capture of the capital is still in the memory of Cambodian people until the present day” (Ngoun, 2006, pp. 44-45).”

As for America, the Western superpower of today, Thai ultra-nationalists feel that US President Donald Trump should not be sticking his nose in or dictating how Thailand should handle Cambodia. Ultra-nationalists are proud at the Thailand that can say NO to the US.

And who is Malaysian Prime Minister [and ASEAN Chair] Anwar Ibrahim to dare announce a ceasefire on his Facebook page the other day—on Saturday, December 13, 2025—which Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul chose to ignore because he is rapidly gaining votes (a ‘war for votes’ strategy) by portraying himself as a leader who can say NO to Trump (at least for a while, as Trump is busy with countless other issues: China-Taiwan-Japan, Venezuela, Russia-Ukraine, and Israel-Palestine, not to mention domestic issues in America like illegal immigration arrests and leaked private photos).

It is, therefore, not surprising but appalling that the war with Cambodia in 2025 harks back to the school-indoctrinated memories of not only of the era when Thailand lost its nominal authority over Cambodian leaders to France in 1867, over 150 years ago, and the era when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the disputed Preah Vihear Temple belonged to Cambodia in 1962, 63 years ago.

This battle is thus like a rerun, informed by past collective memories of Thais, which includes the Phraya Longvek era, which the Ayutthaya Royal Chronicle states that the siege of Longvek and the execution took place in 1593, 432 years ago.

(However, academic evidence and Cambodian chronicles as well as Spanish records state that Phraya Longvek (Nak Preah Sattha), whom Thais were taught to remember as ‘rebellious and betraying’ Khmer king,’ managed to escape before the city fell to the Siamese forces in 1594.

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Thai Police Bust Illegal Koh Phangan Resort Run by French Man

By

Khaosod English

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15 December 2025, 15:26

french resort3 — Thai police inspect an unlicensed resort during a raid on Koh Phangan island in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, on Dec. 14, 2025.

KOH PHANGAN — Thai authorities have arrested a French man and four Myanmar nationals after uncovering an unlicensed resort operating on Koh Phangan, a popular tourist island in southern Thailand, officials said.

The arrests came as part of an ongoing crackdown on foreign-run businesses operating illegally on the island, which is a major tourism destination in Surat Thani province.

Immigration police in Surat Thani, working with provincial police and local administrative officials, inspected a resort in Ban Tai subdistrict on Sunday after receiving information that it was operating unlawfully. Authorities said the resort consisted of 11 daily rental units charging between 2,000 and 4,000 baht per night (about $65 to $130), and also offered restaurant and fitness services.

french resort2 — Police arrest a French man wearing a red shirt during a raid on an illegal resort on Koh Phangan island in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, on Dec. 14, 2025.

The operator, identified as Arnaud, 32, a French national listed as a company director, was unable to produce a valid hotel business license, police said.

Officers also found four Myanmar nationals working as a cashier, waitstaff and dishwashers. Authorities said the workers had failed to properly notify officials of their employment and were working outside the scope of what they were legally permitted to do.

Arnaud was charged with jointly operating a hotel business without authorization, working as a foreign national beyond permitted job categories, employing foreign workers in violation of labor regulations, and failing to report the employment of foreign workers within the legally required 15-day period.

french resort1 — Four Myanmar nationals are arrested by Thai authorities for working illegally during a raid on an unlicensed resort on Koh Phangan island in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, on Dec. 14, 2025.

The four Myanmar workers were charged with failing to notify authorities of their employment within 15 days and working outside their permitted job scope.

Lt. Gen. Phanumart Boonyalak, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said the operation was intended to boost confidence among tourists visiting Koh Phangan and ensure they are not exploited by illegal businesses that could damage the island’s image as a tourist destination.

He urged the public to report suspected violations involving foreign nationals by calling the immigration hotline at 1178 or contacting the Surat Thani immigration office.

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Suntory Launches the “Express Your Love with BRAND’S” New Year Gift Campaign

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Mc Marketing

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15 December 2025, 15:01

BRAND’S Gifting by Suntory Beverage & Food Thailand is launching its year-end campaign “Express Your Love with BRAND’S, Thoughtfully select gift with your heart for your important ones” along with a new collection of premium New Year gift sets and hampers. Highlighting contemporary designs that blend auspicious symbolism with practical reusability, the new collection offers diverse options tailored to various recipients, designed to be thoughtful gifts that reflect the giver’s care and intention for their important ones, filled with love and wellness. The launch is supported by a full-scale marketing campaign, including a new campaign film starring Taksaorn “Aff” Paksukcharern and popular influencer Mosmudjook. In addition, special promotions with discounts of up to 25% and numerous premiums are available from today until January 7, 2026.

BRAND’S Essence of Chicken and BRAND’S Bird’s Nest Gift Sets feature an elegant magnolia motif with intricate lattice window details, symbolizing wishes for good health, luck, and prosperity. The sophisticated, premium design makes them ideal for parents, respected elders, colleagues, supervisors, or business partners, reflecting thoughtful attention to detail. Additionally, the BRAND’S Essence of Chicken Gift Set includes an exclusive lucky draw opportunity.
BRAND’S VETA Vitamin A Berry and BRAND’S VETA Fiber Prune Gift Sets showcase a modern unicorn motif celebrating the Year of the Horse, conveying wishes for good health, luck, and vitality. With vibrant colors, these sets are ideal for friends, relatives, and close acquaintances.
Reusable New Year Gift Hampers in Five New Functional Designs

Thailand Denies Entry to 185 Amid Cambodia Border Tensions

By

Khaosod English

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15 December 2025, 13:55

immigration airport3 — Passengers queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration on Dec. 14, 2025 as Thailand increases security checks amid Cambodia border tensions.

BANGKOK — Thailand has denied entry to 185 people in less than two weeks as immigration officials tighten airport screening amid fears that foreign mercenaries could exploit visa-exemption travel during border clashes with Cambodia, authorities said on Monday.

Immigration Bureau spokesperson Police Colonel Choengron Rimpadee said the denials between early December and December 13 came after authorities raised concerns that suspected foreign fighters could use Thailand’s visa exemption program to conduct operations threatening national security or slip across the border into Cambodia.

National Police Chief Police General Kittiratt Phanphet and Immigration Bureau Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Phanumat Bonnyalak ordered the enhanced screening after the latest round of Thai-Cambodian border tensions escalated.

The heightened measures target two groups: suspected mercenaries from Eastern Europe and North Asia, and Cambodian citizens entering on visa-free tourism passes.

“It’s abnormal for them to come for tourism when both sides have escalated the conflict to the point of clashes,” Choengron said. Cambodians with legitimate business in Thailand should obtain proper visas from Thai embassies to undergo screening at the source, he added.

Immigration commanders and checkpoint supervisors from Thailand’s five major international airports — Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai — met December 11 to establish the security protocols.

immigration airport1 — Passengers queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration on Dec. 14, 2025 as Thailand increases security checks amid Cambodia border tensions.

The Immigration Bureau is coordinating with intelligence agencies to identify specific individuals and avoid disrupting the estimated 75,000 to 80,000 tourists entering Thailand daily during peak season, Choengron said.

Immigration officers typically have no more than 45 seconds to check each passport. The enhanced security may increase wait times from about 20 minutes to approximately 45 minutes at Suvarnabhumi Airport during peak hours, though all inspection channels remain fully staffed, officials said.

Thai citizens face no additional screening under the new measures.

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Thai Miss World’s Call for Peace Ignites Debate Amid Border Conflict

By

Khaosod English

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15 December 2025, 03:33

Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata Chuangsri addresses attendees at the Global Leadership Summit 2025 in Bangkok on Dec. 14, 2025, calling for world leaders to choose "peace over war." (Photo: Global TPN)

BANGKOK — A rare call for peace from a Thai public figure has sparked a heated debate on Thai social media, coming at a time of escalating nationalism and deadly border clashes with Cambodia. The remarks were made by Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata Chuangsri as she accepted the Global Leadership Achievement Award at the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) 2025 in Bangkok on Sunday.

The Thai beauty queen’s speech urged leaders to choose “peace over war” and “humanity above gain,” a message that immediately resonated with peace advocates but drew sharp criticism from those prioritizing military defense during the tense border situation.

The Speech and the Summit

Opal’s speech, shared widely by the popular Facebook page Miss Boonrawd, contained a central message: “The choices we make today will shape the lives of generations to come.To transform hopes and visions into progress in the real world is to be united in action. Unity in action is choosing peace over war. Choosing cooperation over conflict. Choosing people over triumph. And build bridges where lost once stood, and placing humanity above gain.”

The Global Leadership Summit 2025 was primarily organized by the United Peace Keepers Federal Council (UNPKFC) under the slogan “One Vision, One Planet, United in Action.” The event, held in Thailand to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, showcased the country’s role as an international conference hub and the involvement of Thai individuals in promoting global peace and development.

Conflict and Diplomacy

The summit’s timing coincides with a severe escalation of fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border. More than two dozen people on both sides have officially been reported killed in the past week’s fighting, and over half a million have been displaced.

The latest large-scale combat began with a skirmish on December 7 that wounded two Thai soldiers and disrupted a fragile ceasefire brokered in late July by U.S. President Donald Trump. While Trump announced last Friday that both countries had agreed to renew the ceasefire at his urging, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied making any such commitment, and Cambodia announced it would continue fighting in what it called self-defense.

opal peace2 — Opal Suchata Chuangsri accepts the Global Leadership Achievement Award at the Global Leadership Summit 2025 on Dec. 14, 2025. (Photo: Global TPN)

Online Firestorm

The response to Chuangsri’s speech online was swift and divided.

Miss Boonrawd praised the message, stating, ‘The voice Thai people need is one that calls for peace, not war!! Thank you Opal, for having the courage to stand up for peace at the Global Leadership Summit 2025. This is right, and this is what we need most.”

However, numerous commenters challenged the practicality of the peace plea.

One user, Thunyaporn, commented: “How are we supposed to stop the Khmer when they are pointing guns at civilians, using landmines that sever soldiers’ legs? Diplomatic talks have been done, agreements have been made, but we are negotiating with bandits who do not keep their word. If a robber breaks into your house and points a gun at your child, and you have a gun, will you shoot the robber to protect your child, or will you ask for diplomatic negotiations?”
Another user, Panpisa, challenged: “Then please provide a concrete solution, what should be done? How do we negotiate with Cambodia? Please give a real-world answer, not imagination, not Romanticize.”

opal peace3 — Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata Chuangsri addresses attendees at the Global Leadership Summit 2025 in Bangkok on Dec. 14, 2025, calling for world leaders to choose “peace over war.” (Photo: Global TPN)

In response to the critics, Miss Boonrawd argued that calling for peace is not a sign of weakness or a lack of patriotism, but rather “the courage to stop the cycle of hatred” to preserve lives, the economy, and long-term relations.

“It will not be ‘all over’ through years of protracted war, losing personnel, the morale of our border brethren, and vast military budgets,” the page wrote. “Think of the people on the border, Thais in Cambodia, soldiers who are lost, students, and innocent people, etc. Choosing humanity over hatred, choosing peace over war, is the most important thing to do. In 10 or 20 years, people in the future will look back and admire and be proud of Opal’s words.”

Phicha, another netizen, agreed, saying, “Talking about peace is not being naive; it requires true courage and far-sighted thinking. War never ends only on the battlefield; ordinary people are all affected—lives, the economy, and the future of the border. I am glad that someone in public dares to speak this point of view.”

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Myanmar Calls on Countries to Take Back Citizens Held in Crackdown on Scam Centers

By

Associated Press

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14 December 2025, 23:17

Myanmar Scam Centers — Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun, fifth from left, leader of the military information team, speaks during a news conference on national level efforts to completely eliminate online scams and dismantle their networks at the root, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military regime appealed to the international community on Sunday to take back hundreds of foreigners who have been detained in a crackdown on scam centers in the country’s eastern Kayin state near the Thai border.

In recent months, the authorities have raided two major scam centers, KK Park and Shwe Kokko, on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a trading town on the border with Thailand. The operations resulted in the detention of thousands of foreign nationals.

Col. Min Thu Kyaw, who led the crackdown operations, said authorities were struggling to manage the detainees.

“They are different nationals, who have different religions, morals and personalities,” he said. “We want the international community to come and call them quickly. It would be more convenient if they call them back as soon as possible.”

On Sunday, Maj-Gen Aung Kyaw Kyaw, deputy minister for Home Affairs, told a press conference in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, that 13,272 foreigners from 47 countries had been detained since the start of the crackdown in January. While most have been deported, 1,655 are still in detention, he said.

AP25348292858254 — Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun, leader of the military information team, speaks after press briefing on national level efforts to completely eliminate online scams and dismantle their networks at the root, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

Myanmar is notorious for hosting cyberscam operations that target people all over the world. They usually involve gaining a person’s confidence with romantic ploys and luring them into bogus investment schemes. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime has estimated that such activities generate just under $40 billion in annual revenue for criminal gangs.

Col. Min Thu Kyaw, the minister for the security and border affairs of Kayin state government, said most of the 1,655 people awaiting deportation are being held at town’s sport facilities, as well as in buildings controlled by the Kayin Border Guard Force and repurposed scam compounds.

The largest number of the remaining detainees awaiting deportation are Chinese nationals, with more than 500 people. They rest comprises groups of between 100 and 300 people each from Indonesia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Kenya and India, he said.

The minister said most delayed returns involve foreigners from African countries that do not have embassies in Myanmar or Thailand, and that has slowed the deportation process to as long as five months.

AP25348292609049 — A military officer looks at photos displayed during a news conference on national level efforts to completely eliminate online scams and dismantle their networks at the root, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

State-run MRTV television has recently broadcast footage of security operations at scam centers near Myawaddy, including videos and photos showing buildings being demolished with explosives and bulldozers.

The military government has said it began its latest crackdown on online scams and illegal gambling in early September. However, critics charge that the masterminds of the scam operations continue to operate in other locations.

Ethnic minority militias also exercise strong influence in the Myawaddy area. Several ethnic Karen militias are active, including the military-backed Border Guard Force, which has signed a ceasefire with the army, and the Karen National Union, which is part of the nationwide resistance fight against military rule.

The Border Guard Force has claimed credit for taking part in the crackdown, though it is widely believed to have provided protection for scam operators in the past. The military government has claimed the KNU is linked to the scam centers on the basis of reported real estate deals.

Both groups have denied involvement in the scam operations.

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Chinese Fugitive Wanted in Hospital Bid-Rigging Case Arrested in Bangkok

By

Khaosod English

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14 December 2025, 22:59

yunnan fugitive2 — Thai police inspect a room used by the Chinese suspect after his arrest in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 14, 2025.

BANGKOK — Thai police have arrested a Chinese national wanted on corruption charges in China involving alleged bid rigging at a public hospital that caused losses of more than $8.5 million, authorities said on Sundaay.

The suspect, identified by Thai police as a 49-year-old Chinese man surnamed Song, was detained in Bangkok following a request for assistance from authorities in China’s Yunnan province. He is being held pending deportation and extradition to face prosecution in China.

According to Thai police, Song was convicted on corruption-related charges in China before fleeing the country. Investigators from Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division traced him to a residence in the Thai capital after receiving intelligence from Chinese law enforcement.

yunnan fugitive3 — Thai Central Investigation Bureau officers arrest a Chinese fugitive wanted on corruption charges at his residence in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 14, 2025.

Chinese authorities alleged that Song had paid bribes to the director of Zhenxiong County People’s Hospital and other officials in Yunnan’s Zhaotong municipality to gain preferential treatment in the sale of medical supplies and equipment and to secure construction contracts for hospital projects.

The alleged scheme violated Chinese laws on bid-rigging collusion and abuse of official duties, causing estimated damages of more than 60 million yuan, or about $8.5 million, Thai police said.

After Chinese authorities issued a criminal detention order and revoked Song’s travel documents, they coordinated with Thai officials through the Lancang-Mekong Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center, police said.

On December 14, Police Lt. Gen. Natsak Chaowanasai, commander of Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division, ordered Song’s arrest with assistance from immigration police. He was taken into custody at a residence in the Krungthep Kritha area of Bangkok.

Immigration officials revoked Song’s permission to remain in Thailand and placed him in detention pending deportation to China, police said.

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Woman Charged Over False U.S. Mercenary Claims Tied to Cambodia

By

Khaosod English

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14 December 2025, 21:08

fake news — Messages and images containing false claims shared in a LINE group are displayed on smartphones in Koh Phangan district, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, in December 2025.

KOH PHANGAN — Thai police have charged a 72-year-old woman for spreading false information on social media claiming that American mercenaries were traveling from a southern Thai island to assist Cambodian forces in fighting Thailand, authorities said.

Police on Koh Phangan island said the false reports alleged that Jewish American soldiers were among groups of foreign mercenaries being transported by boat to Cambodia’s Sihanoukville province to join combat operations against Thai troops.

According to investigators, the misinformation circulated online included claims that 180 foreigners on Koh Phangan had hired Thai boat operators to take them to Cambodia, while another 200 foreigners remained on the island.

fake news mercenaries1 — Messages and images containing false information shared in a LINE group are displayed on smartphones in Koh Phangan district, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, in December 2025.

The posts said the group included Jewish Americans and people of other nationalities and was accompanied by photos showing foreigners carrying luggage in front of a building with Khmer-language signage.

The posts further claimed the foreigners were mercenaries working for Cambodia’s powerful Hun family and were specialists in military drone operations. Police said their investigation found the claims to be entirely false and unsupported by any evidence.

Authorities said they were ordered on Dec. 13 to trace the source of the social media posts after they began circulating widely. Investigators determined the first messages were shared at about 1 p.m. on December 12 from a house in Koh Phangan district via a LINE messaging group with 270 members. The content was later forwarded to two additional LINE groups with 24 and 29 members, respectively.

fake news mercenaries2 — A police officer records charges against a 72-year-old woman at a police station in Koh Phangan district, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, in December 2025, over the online spread of false claims involving alleged U.S. mercenaries and Cambodia.

Police identified the original sender as a 72-year-old woman, identified only by the initials T.H. She was summoned for questioning on Dec. 13 and admitted to sharing the messages and images without knowing whether they were accurate and without knowing their original source, police said.

Investigators charged her with importing distorted or false information into a computer system in a manner likely to cause harm to the public, an offense under Thailand’s computer crime law.

The spread of the false claims coincided with a televised discussion on Dec. 12 involving prominent political science and security expert Panitan Wattanayagorn, who was speaking about military drone use on a popular Channel 3 talk show.

panithan mercenaries — Political science and security analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn speaks during a television program in Bangkok in December 2025.

During the program “Hone Krasae,” the host asked whether unidentified fighters were involved in the conflict. Panitan said Thai authorities were detaining some individuals connected to the battlefield who were affiliated with military consulting companies.

Panitan said he was aware of such companies, which he did not identify by nationality. He said security agencies would continue investigating their activities. The companies, he said, are legitimately hired to train or operate military drones, not civilian or semi-civilian drones. However, all such operations must be conducted under military command systems.

His comments were later distorted and circulated on social media to falsely claim that he had said American mercenaries were helping Cambodia attack Thailand.

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Thailand Says Cambodian Rocket Fire Has Caused Its First Civilian Death

By

Associated Press

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14 December 2025, 19:31

Thailand Cambodia — A damaged house is seen after what Thai soldiers said was a Cambodian artillery strike in the area in Sisaket province, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

KANTHARALAK, Thailand (AP) — Thailand’s government said a rocket attack from Cambodia on Sunday killed a 63-year-old villager, its first civilian death reported as a direct result of combat over the past week along the border of the two Southeast Asian nations.

Both countries confirmed that large-scale fighting, which was set off by a skirmish on Dec. 7 that wounded two Thai soldiers, continued Sunday. The two sides are battling over longstanding competing claims to patches of frontier land, some of which contain centuries-old temple ruins.

More than two dozen people on both sides of the border have officially been reported killed in the past week’s fighting, while more than half a million have been displaced.

Reporters from The Associated Press arrived at the scene of Sunday’s rocket impact in Sisaket province’s Kantharalak District about 10 minutes after it hit. They witnessed the body of a man totally wrapped in bandages being put on a stretcher that was taken to an ambulance.

AP25348250506980 — A house is seen damaged following a Thai soldier said was a Cambodian artillery strike in Sisaket province, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A house a couple of hundred meters (yards) away was in flames, with village volunteers attempting to put out the fire with buckets of water. A piece of shrapnel believed to be from the same rocket was embedded nearby in the road.

The victim, identified as Don Patchapan, was killed in the heart of a residential area near a school, according to a Thai Army statement. Thai Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat condemned Cambodia for deliberately firing into civilian areas, saying that such an action was “cruel and inhumane.”

Thailand earlier reported civilian deaths during the renewed conflict, but most of them already had underlying health issues and died during an evacuation.

Cambodia has deployed truck-mounted BM-21 rocket launchers with a range of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles). Each can fire up to 40 rockets at a time but cannot be precisely targeted. They have landed largely in areas from where most people have already been evacuated.

Thai authorities say Cambodia has launched thousands of the rockets on virtually a daily basis. Thailand, meanwhile, has been carrying out airstrikes with its fighter planes, with Cambodia saying the bombing continued on Sunday. Both sides have employed drones for surveillance and delivering bombs.

AP25348250040021 — Thai rescue team members move a body into a vehicle after a Cambodian artillery strike in Sisaket province, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Residents in another village in Kantharalak said several houses there were damaged by a rocket attack Saturday. Kanbancha Charoensri, who was in the village during the attack, said several rockets landed nearby and injured a few people.

“Houses that were hit directly were totally destroyed,” he said. “The ground was shaking so much. It was so scary.”

The Thai military has acknowledged 16 of its troops have died during the fighting, and estimated Sunday that there have been at least 221 fatalities among Cambodian soldiers. Cambodia denounced the Thai count of its dead as disinformation but has not yet acknowledged any military casualties. It has said at least 11 civilians have been killed and more than six dozen wounded.

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet delivered a morale-boosting message to his countrymen on Sunday, writing on social media that he is proud to see this nation’s strength “in this situation where our country is facing difficulties due to aggression from neighboring countries.”

AP25348220219118 — People take refuge in Wat Prasat Srahkandal, Banteay Menchey province, Cambodia Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, after fleeing home following fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

The new fighting derailed a ceasefire promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump that ended five days of earlier combat in July. It had been brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. It was formalized in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that Trump attended.

Trump announced this past Friday that the two countries had agreed at his urging to renew the ceasefire, but Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied making any commitment and Cambodia announced it was continuing to fight in what it said is self-defense.

A Thai Navy warship in the Gulf of Thailand joined the fighting on Saturday morning, trading fire with guns based in Cambodia’s southwestern province of Koh Kong. Each side blamed the other for initiating the exchange on a new front.

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Tian Macleod reported from Sisaket and Jintamas Saksornchai reported from Surin, Thailand. Sopheng Cheang contributed from Preah Netr Preah, Cambodia.

It’s War and No-War Between Thailand and Cambodia in Bangkok

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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14 December 2025, 17:45

stop war — Anti-war protesters gather at Srinakharinwirot University's Prasarnmit campus in Bangkok on December 13, 2025, to oppose the Thailand-Cambodia conflict. The rally drew minimal attendance. (KHAOSOD Photo/Pattarayoot Phukpol)

T he fact that Thai people are not coming out to demand a ceasefire or an end to this unnecessary war between Thailand and Cambodia is tantamount to granting a license for the Thai Government to allow the killing to continue.

Yesterday, 13 December 2025, on Day 6 of the renewed military clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, there were only six anti-war protesters in Bangkok at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) and another half dozen in Chiang Mai. Even the main opposition People’s Party, the party that claims to be the most progressive, held an event yesterday afternoon dubbed by themselves as a “picnic” with party supporters in Bangkok and remained obsessed over the upcoming election and their failed attempts to push for a new Constitution, without paying attention to—or daring to go against—the tide of ultranationalism by calling for a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, most people in Bangkok, some 250–300 kilometres from the Thai–Cambodian border, and who live beyond the reach of Cambodia’s most lethal arsenal, the PHL-03 Chinese-made truck-mounted self-propelled 12-tube 300 mm long-range multiple rocket launcher with a range of 130 kilometres, are going about their lives during the year-end festive season as normal, while fierce fighting is entering its seventh day today.

People, particularly soldiers of both sides, are dying, and more than half a million civilians on both sides of the border have been displaced, forced to flee the war.

Thai-based Cambodian labour activist, Saing Ry, told me this morning that the number of registered migrant workers from Cambodia in Thailand is 407,013, and as many as 103,711 of them will see their work permits expiring on 31 March 2026.

“Many are worried,” she told me.

Basically, some ultranationalists view them as either potential spies, a spy, or an enemy.

Meanwhile, across the Thai border in Cambodia, some 600–700 Thais are trapped in Poipet town, Cambodia, and are not allowed to cross the border, pending an investigation into whether they have committed any crime or not.

As of press time Sunday, 16 Thai soldiers have died, and some 270 soldiers have been injured, on top of two civilians injured.

The latest information from Cambodia, two days ago, was a claim by its Government as reported on the Phnom Penh Post that 11 Cambodian civilians have been killed and 76 injured, most of them requiring emergency treatment.

Most conspicuous is the absence of any figures released by the Cambodian Government regarding military fatalities and injuries while the Thai army claimed over two hundred Cambodian soldiers have been killed so far. (The fact that no figures were released and no questions asked by the Cambodian press reflects the autocratic state of Cambodian society at present.)

Back to Bangkok, this writer witnessed hundreds of young Bangkokians enjoying multiple-stage concerts at the fashionable Siam area of Bangkok in the evening, just three-minutes’ walk from where the six anti-war protesters stood just a few hours earlier on the same day.

I posted a clip of the young people enjoying themselves in both Thai and English on my X account (@PravitR) saying:

“As war between Thailand and Cambodia rages and is entering its seventh day tomorrow, 14 December 2025, young Thais in Bangkok enjoy Siam Music Fest with multiple stages on Saturday evening, 13 December.”

The clip in the Thai-language version has attracted over 1.8 million views in less than 24 hours.

One fellow Thai journalist (@erich_parpart) reacted (to the English-version of my post) by tweetung to me on X saying:

“What do you want them to do? Stay home and watch a bullshit war that politicians on both sides started for their own gain? Cry about it? Or join the fight?”

My reply was: “I am just a messenger. What young Thais do is up to them. Just pointing out what they are doing while war is raging just 250–300 kilometres from Bangkok. Let me quote what you told your Cambodian trolls. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

#ThailandCambodia #ไทยกัมพูชา #ป #หยุดสงคราม”

Thinking about it today, it seems some people are disturbed to be reminded of the irony, the contradiction, or the indifference even, in Thai society at present.

Years from now, I believe historians will ask how the majority of the Thai people could remain so indifferent in the face of such killings now. As for myself, having grown up too late to experience the 6 October 1976 massacre as an adult, I have often wondered and asked myself how people lived at that time, and why they allowed the situation to spiral out of control.

Less than a day after one of the six anti-war protesters staged a lonely protest, with myself as the only journalist covering and interviewing one of the protesters (See here: [https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BBZHyoZrv/]), a protester posted an observation on Facebook today saying they were faced with a barrage of criticisms on social media “but should continue protesting against the war.”

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