BANGKOK — Benchasiri Park Property has acquired the Montien Riverside Hotel in a deal valued at more than 3 billion baht ($94.5 million), according to hotel industry sources cited by Matichon. The purchase ends the Montien brand’s decades-long presence on the Chao Phraya River and marks another major asset shift for one of Thailand’s oldest Thai-owned hotel groups.
The Montien brand, founded by the Tantakit family, built its reputation on traditional hospitality and its famed “Montien chicken rice.” The riverside property, which opened in 1994, is a 29-story, five-star hotel with 462 rooms on more than 13 rai (5.14 acres) of land along Rama III Road.
Montien Riverside Hotel Bangkok
The transaction follows another significant selloff in April 2025, when Montien Hotel Surawong concluded a 25-year leasehold sale to Ignite Venture Co. for more than 2.5 billion baht (USD 78.7 million). That deal included the 500-room Montien Surawong, the 179-unit Surawong Residence, the Montien Shopping Mall and parking facilities.
Montien Surawong opened in 1967 and became a prominent landmark in the Silom–Surawong area, known for its geometric architecture and interior murals by artist Paiboon Suwannakudt, a protégé of national artist Silpa Bhirasri.
The property once drew a steady mix of travelers, entertainers, political figures and members of royal families, offering accommodations, dining and live performances at the Montienthong Theater.
Montien Surawong
But shifting consumer preferences and intensifying competition from international hotel chains eroded the group’s position. A renovation completed in 2020 failed to reverse losses as the reopening coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely reduced tourism and contributed to years of financial strain.
Benchasiri Park Property Co., established in 2005 with registered capital of 750 million ($23.6 million) baht, operates hotels, resorts and serviced suites. Its portfolio includes the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit. The acquisition of the Montien Riverside is expected to strengthen the company’s foothold in Bangkok’s premium hospitality segment as demand in the riverside market continues to recover.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attends the House of Representatives extraordinary parliamentary session to consider constitutional amendment drafts on Dec. 10, 2025.
BANGKOK — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved Thailand’s parliament late Thursday, a preemptive move that headed off a planned no-confidence motion and came as his government rides a wave of nationalist support amid renewed military clashes with Cambodia.
The dissolution followed days of escalating cross-border fighting that shattered a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and stirred public anger over long-running territorial disputes. Anutin, who has embraced a hard-line posture, has drawn backing from ultranationalist and conservative groups for refusing to scale back military operations.
He has publicly rejected calls for a ceasefire and said he would not compromise even if the conflict affects ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States.
The move to dissolve parliament also came hours before U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to call both Anutin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on December 11 in an effort to halt the fighting. Trump, who successfully mediated a ceasefire following the July clashes, expressed confidence he could broker peace once again.
An extraordinary session of the House of Representatives takes place on Dec. 10-11, 2025.
Thailand and Cambodia fought for five days in late July before Trump mediated a truce signed by Anutin and Hun Manet in Kuala Lumpur on October 26. That deal collapsed on December 7 when both sides accused the other of launching fresh attacks along the Si Sa Ket Province border.
For Anutin, the renewed conflict appeared to offer an opportunity to regain political footing following widespread criticism over deadly floods in southern Thailand in late November. Nearly 270 people were killed in Hat Yai District and surrounding areas, and the government faced heavy scrutiny for its response.
The opposition Pheu Thai Party had planned a no-confidence debate against Anutin but delayed the motion to allow the government to focus on disaster relief. The border fighting further complicated the political calculus: Anutin’s minority government has relied on support from the main opposition People’s Party, whose votes helped him win the premiership in September.
Pheu Thai Party members confer in the parliamentary chamber during the House of Representatives extraordinary session to consider constitutional amendments on Dec. 11, 2025.
The People’s Party’s decision to back Anutin over Pheu Thai’s nominee—who had pledged to dissolve parliament immediately—has remained a source of fierce criticism among Pheu Thai supporters. People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has argued his lawmakers backed Anutin only under a four-month agreement that he would dissolve parliament and pursue constitutional amendments.
Pheu Thai supporters have dismissed that explanation, accusing the party of enabling conservative dominance under a constitution that benefits pro-establishment forces.
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut holds a press conference after the extraordinary parliamentary session on constitutional amendments, following the breakdown in relations with Bhumjaithai Party on Dec. 11, 2025.
Those tensions sharpened on December 11 during an extraordinary joint parliamentary session on constitutional amendments. The Bhumjaithai Party, led by Anutin and aligned with the People’s Party in earlier votes, sided instead with conservative senators to restore a requirement that any constitutional amendment win approval from at least one-third of the upper house.
As the People’s Party scrambled to gather signatures for an immediate no-confidence debate, Anutin submitted a royal request to dissolve the House of Representatives.
At 10:05 p.m., he announced the decision on Facebook, writing, “I am returning power back to the people,” and replied “Alright then” to the People’s Party’s statement saying, “See you at the ballot box.”
The extraordinary session ended with lawmakers voting to send a referendum question to the Cabinet asking: “Do you agree to draft a new constitution?” The government had previously planned to hold the referendum alongside a general election expected in February.
In this aerial photo provided by Wai Hun Aung, damaged buildings are seen at the hospital that was allegedly hit by a military air strike in Mrauk-U township in Rakhine state, Myanmar, Thursday, Dec.11, 2025. (Wai Hun Aung via AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — An airstrike by Myanmar ’s military destroyed a hospital in an area controlled by a leading rebel armed force, killing 34 patients and medical staff, according to a local rescue worker and independent media reports on Thursday.
About 80 other people were injured in the attack Wednesday night on the general hospital in Mrauk-U township, an area controlled by the ethnic Arakan Army in the western state of Rakhine.
The ruling military has not announced news of any attack in the area.
Wai Hun Aung, a senior official for rescue services in Rakhine, told The Associated Press that a jet fighter dropped two bombs at 9:13 p.m. with one hitting the hospital’s recovery ward and the other landing near the hospital’s main building.
He said he arrived at the hospital early Thursday to provide assistance and recorded the deaths of 17 women and 17 men. He said that most of the hospital building was destroyed by the bombs, and taxis and motorbikes near the hospital were also damaged.
In this photo provided by Wai Hun Aung, a damaged building is seen at the hospital that was allegedly hit by a military air strike in Mrauk-U township in Rakhine state, Myanmar, Thursday, Dec.11, 2025. (Wai Hun Aung via AP)
Rakhine-based online media posted photos and videos showing damaged buildings and debris including medical equipment.
The hospital has been the main source of health care for people in Rakhine, where most hospitals have closed because of Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, said Wai Hun Aung.
It was reopened after doctors gathered in Mrauk-U to provide much-needed medical services.
Mrauk-U, located 530 kilometers (326 miles) northwest of Yangon, the country’s largest city, was captured by the Arakan Army in February last year.
In this photo provided by Wai Hun Aung, a damaged building is seen at the hospital that was allegedly hit by a military air strike in Mrauk-U township in Rakhine state, Myanmar, Thursday, Dec.11, 2025. (Wai Hun Aung via AP)
The Arakan Army is the well-trained and well-armed military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, which seeks autonomy from Myanmar’s central government. It began its offensive in Rakhine in November 2023 and has seized a strategically important regional army headquarters and 14 of Rakhine’s 17 townships.
Rakhine, formerly known as Arakan, was the site of a brutal army counterinsurgency operation in 2017 that drove about 740,000 minority Rohingya Muslims to seek safety across the border in Bangladesh. There is still ethnic tension between the Buddhist Rakhine and the Rohingya.
Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, established by elected lawmakers who were barred from taking their seats in 2021, condemned the airstrike.
In this photo provided by Wai Hun Aung, people check damaged buildings at the hospital that was allegedly hit by a military air strike in Mrauk-U township in Rakhine state, Myanmar, Thursday, Dec.11, 2025. (Wai Hun Aung via AP)
The organization urged the international community to pressure the military to end its actions, take action against perpetrators and provide humanitarian assistance as soon as possible.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army took power in 2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. Many opponents of military rule have since taken up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict.
The military government has stepped up airstrikes ahead of planned Dec. 28 elections against the armed pro-democracy People’s Defense Force, which is closely associated with the National Unity Government. Opponents of military rule charge that the polls will be neither free not fair, and are mainly an effort to legitimize the army retaining power.
The disputed Ta Kwai Temple or Ta Krabey Temple has been severely damaged due to the Thai–Cambodian clashes in December 2025.
Call It Ta Kwai Or Ta Krabey, the Disputed Ancient Temple Became a Latest Casualty of the Needless Thai-Cambodian War
T he latest news is that, after three days of fighting, the disputed Ta Kwai Temple (Cambodians call it Ta Krabey Temple, BTW) has been severely damaged due to the Thai–Cambodian clashes.
Cambodia claims that the Thai army has targeted Angkorian temples along the border and while Thailand admits doing so, it accuses Cambodia of stationing troops inside the temple, thus making it a legitimate target under international law.
So what exactly were they fighting for? For Ta Kwai Temple? Because if you value and care about the temple, you Cambodia shouldn’t be stationing troops inside, while Thai soldiers shouldn’t be shooting at the temple simply because Cambodian soldiers were inside.
Yet both sides didn’t care whether the shelling would destroy it or not.
If you want Ta Kwai Temple (or Ta Krabey Temple) so badly, how can both sides keep firing there like this?
No—neither of the two armies is truly fighting for the Temple, but for their extreme nationalist ego, endlessly arguing because each side insists that the temple belongs only, and only, to their country.
I do not think both the Cambodian and Thai governments truly value the temple because one side stationed armed soldiers inside the temple while the other is willing to fire into the temple to “retake” it.
P.S. A Thai official at the Fine Arts Department told the local media that the public “do not need to worry” because they have restored some historic sites in the same condition, or worse. One wonders if he would dare make such a same remark about the Emerald Buddha Temple, Wat Pho or Prasart Phanom Rung.
This shows a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK — Ongoing armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia are eroding years of diplomatic progress and may jeopardize foundational agreements that govern the two countries’ border relations, Thai political scientist and security scholar Surachart Bamrungsuk warns in an assessment published by Matichon Weekly.
Surachart outlines six areas of concern that he says illustrate how the fighting, which began on December 7, is reshaping the strategic landscape and narrowing options for de-escalation.
Diplomatic Momentum Shattered
Surachart writes that before the latest hostilities, the bilateral environment had appeared cautiously optimistic. The Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) was expected to resume survey work early next year, with plans to chart a path toward resolving the Nong Jan and Nong Nha Kaeo boundary issues.
That progress has stalled, he says, leaving at least five unresolved issues with no visible path forward: the reopening of border crossings, cross-border trade, freight transit, the Thai goods market in Cambodia and the return of Cambodian migrant workers.
Hundreds of Cambodians from Rong Kluea Market on the Aranyaprathet side in Sa Kaeo Province and other areas carry their belongings as they wait to cross through the Ban Khlong Luek permanent border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo Province amid intensifying clashes between the two countries on Dec. 10, 2025.
If the conflict continues, Surachart argues, the two memoranda of understanding that have long guided border management — the MOUs of 2000 and 2001 — are likely to become casualties as well. “There is no need for a referendum to issue their death certificates,” he writes.
Traditional Approaches No Longer Sufficient
Thailand’s long-standing strategy of relying on bilateral mechanisms to manage border disputes is now unrealistic, Surachart contends, because external actors and geopolitical factors increasingly shape the conflict.
He also challenges a common belief in Thai political and military circles that Thailand’s superior firepower can decisively defeat Cambodia. Cambodia’s military capabilities have expanded significantly since the 2011 border clashes, he notes, and the notion of completely incapacitating Cambodia’s forces is not feasible.
Even if Thailand achieved a battlefield victory, Surachart writes, it would not guarantee political submission by Cambodia. Thai leaders, he argues, must recognize the limits of military coercion. “Thailand is not Russia or Israel,” he says; it cannot expect to use overwhelming force without political and diplomatic consequences.
Such rhetoric may appeal to domestic nationalism but is unlikely to translate into strategic success.
Illumination flares fired by Thai military forces shine in Burirum province, Thailand, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, following clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Limits of Coercive Power
Surachart urges the Thai government to clearly define the political objectives of military action. Without a coherent strategy, he says, the use of force risks becoming detached from any meaningful political end state.
Thailand must also assess whether it possesses real leverage over Cambodia. Among the four pillars of national power — diplomacy, economy, military and information — Thailand’s advantage lies almost exclusively in the military domain. Cambodia can effectively challenge Thailand in diplomatic forums and global information spaces, while Thailand’s economic leverage is not structurally suited to coercion in this conflict.
International Narrative Not Favoring Thailand
In global media coverage, Surachart observes, Thai airstrikes have become the dominant images shaping international perceptions. The global narrative diverges sharply from Thailand’s self-assessment, which assumes that the international community will view the conflict primarily through Thailand’s lens.
He also cautions against overstating the significance of the Ottawa Convention meeting, where Thailand believes Cambodia is on the defensive. While Thailand can present its case, the forum cannot issue binding decisions and deliberations take time. Cambodia has already rebutted Thailand’s claims, and any conclusions reached would carry no legal force.
The more consequential venue, he says, is the UN Security Council, where Cambodia may appeal for international intervention or scrutiny of Thailand’s military actions. Whether Cambodia will take the issue to the Security Council or directly to the International Court of Justice remains uncertain.
FILE – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, right, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, left, react during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Risks in Thailand’s Diplomatic Posture
Surachart warns that Thailand should avoid a foreign-policy position that distances both the United States and ASEAN. Declaring an end to negotiations with Cambodia, he says, would cast Thailand as unwilling to pursue peaceful solutions and leave only the image of military force, which carries political risks.
He also notes that Thailand cannot ignore U.S. trade policy. A loss of U.S. market access, particularly amid heightened geopolitical tensions, would pose a significant economic threat. Thailand’s export dependence cannot be shifted solely to China, and communication with the U.S. Trade Representative remains stalled.
Inflaming nationalism and militarism may serve short-term political interests but undermines Thailand’s long-term strategic position, Surachart writes. Geography ensures that Thailand and Cambodia must continue to coexist; neither can escape the geopolitical realities that bind them.
Political Implications
The escalating conflict raises questions about whether Thailand’s political timetable will shift, including speculation over a possible dissolution of parliament. If elections occur amid wartime conditions, Surachart says, nationalist rhetoric is likely to dominate campaigns across all parties. dissenting voices will be marginalized, and the MOUs at the heart of the dispute are unlikely to be defended publicly.
Under such circumstances, Surachart warns, political actors may “ride the wave” of nationalism for electoral gain, narrowing space for reasoned debate and complicating future efforts to restore stability.
Bangkok, December 2025 — Begin the festive season with the exquisite touch of Blue by Alain Ducasse. This year’s Blue Festive Delights Collection, crafted by Executive Pastry Chef Christophe Grilo, presents a curated selection of handcrafted holiday gifts made from the finest ingredients. With over 20 years of experience, Chef Christophe brings French finesse and exceptional craftsmanship to every creation, ensuring each treat is perfect for sharing or gifting.
Highlights include:
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Perfect for gifting or sharing special moments with loved ones, these limited-edition treats are available for pre-order from today to 2 January 2026.
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A Thai police officer splashes water to control fire at a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
By JERRY HARMER and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI
SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Three Thai civilians were killed as heavy combat continued along the country’s border with Cambodia, the Thai military said Thursday, marking the country’s first civilian fatalities since the fighting resumed.
The latest large-scale fighting was set off by a skirmish on Sunday that wounded two Thai soldiers and derailed a ceasefire pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump that ended five days of combat in July over longstanding territorial disputes.
About two dozen people have been reported killed in the latest fighting, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides of the border and relocated to temporary shelters or moved to stay with relatives.
A Thai Army statement said Cambodia on Wednesday night launched an attack with artillery and mortars against Thai positions, to which it replied with the same kinds of heavy weapons, causing damage including “the destruction of enemy trucks.”
This shows a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery strike in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Cambodia’s Fresh News online news site, which closely reflects government positions, said artillery duels were continuing Thursday morning.
The combat has drawn international concern, including from Pope Leo XIV, who told an audience at the Vatican that he was “deeply saddened by the news of the renewed conflict.”
“There have been casualties, including among civilians, and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. I express my closeness in prayer to these dear peoples,” he said on Wednesday.
Trump says he will urge sides to return to ceasefire
The original ceasefire in July was 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.
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable discussion with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Despite the deal to stop fighting, the two countries carried on a bitter propaganda war and minor cross-border violence continued. Cambodia complained that Thailand did not return 18 soldiers it captured as the ceasefire was coming into effect, while Thailand protested after soldiers patrolling the frontier were wounded by land mines, which it alleges were newly laid by Cambodia. Cambodia insisted that the mines were left over from its decades of civil war that ended in 1999.
Trump said he expects to speak by phone with the two leaders on Thursday, and expressed confidence that he would persuade the two sides, once again, to stop the fighting.
“I think I can get them to stop fighting. Who else can do that?” Trump said on Wednesday in an exchange with reporters, in which he also repeated his exaggerated claim of settling eight wars around the globe since his return to the White House. “Every once in a while, one will flame up again and I have to put out that little flame.”
This shows a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The U.S. had yet to contact Thailand following Trump’s latest remarks, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters in Bangkok on Thursday.
Anutin, reflecting nationalistic public sentiment, has repeatedly vowed to continue fighting until Thailand’s sovereignty and security are assured.
In remarks on Wednesday, he did not seem to rule out negotiations with Cambodia, but said he would not do so simply at the request of Trump.
Rivals exchange strikes
Thailand has deployed jet fighters to carry out airstrikes on what it says are military targets. Cambodia has deployed BM-21 rocket launchers with a range of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles).
According to data collected by public broadcaster ThaiPBS, at least six of the Thai soldiers who were killed were hit by rocket shrapnel.
This shows a house which, Thai local security forces say, was damaged by a Cambodian artillery in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The Thai army’s northeastern regional command said Cambodian forces on Wednesday had by mid-afternoon fired 79 BM-21 salvos with 3,160 rockets, used artillery 122 times and employed bomb-dropping drones in 63 attacks. It said a hospital in Surin province was evacuated after rockets hit about 500 meters (550 yards) away.
The Thai army also said on it destroyed a tall crane atop a hill held by Cambodia where the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple is located, because it allegedly held electronic and optical devices used for military command and control purposes.
Thailand’s military announced Thursday that the dead include nine soldiers, as well as three civilians, whose deaths they said occurred as they were being evacuated. It also said that more than 120 troops have been wounded.
Cambodia has said nine civilians have died, including a baby, and 46 others have been wounded.
A woman plays with a dog as she takes refuge at Chonkal district in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after fleeing from home following a fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over territorial claims. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
An ancient temple sits at the heart of the dispute
The U.N.’s cultural agency, UNESCO, on Wednesday expressed its “strong concern” over fighting in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple, which it has designated a World Heritage site.
“UNESCO stands ready to provide the necessary technical assistance to ensure the protection of cultural property and implement any necessary safeguarding measures as soon as conditions allow,” it said.
The roots of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict lie in a history of enmity over competing territorial claims. These claims largely stem from a 1907 map created while Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand maintains is inaccurate. Tensions were exacerbated by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded sovereignty to Cambodia, which still riles many Thais.
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Sopheng Cheang in Srei Snam, Cambodia, Wasamon Audjarint in Bangkok and Matthew Lee and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.
The Celebrated Capsule Evolves with Additional Styles, Including Kids Wear, Home Essentials, and a Cinematic Campaign Shot at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, Starring Josh Hutcherson
BETHESDA, Md.– The Ritz-Carlton continues its journey from defining luxury hospitality to shaping modern luxury lifestyle with the debut of its second collaboration with Madrid-based fashion label Late Checkout. What began as a daring meeting of refinement and irreverence, celebrated with a Gold Cannes Lions award, now returns with a new chapter.
The collection expands into accessories, loungewear, and children’s pieces, reflecting The Ritz-Carlton’s timeless appeal across generations and Late Checkout’s vision of hotels as living worlds where style and story meet. A color palette of navy, ivory, and light blue honors The Ritz-Carlton’s heritage while carrying Late Checkout’s signature spirit of playfulness.
“This next chapter deepens our shared story with Late Checkout. The Ritz-Carlton has grown to meet travelers across every journey: whether on safari, at sea, in nature, or in our city and resort hotels; this collection now touches more facets of that lifestyle. With family pieces and travel-ready accessories, it reflects our natural evolution as a brand, while keeping the wit and craftsmanship that made people embrace the collaboration from the start,” said Jamie Kerr, Global Head of Brand and Marketing for The Ritz-Carlton.
MICHELIN 1 Key resort reveals a sparkling series of celebrations, including heartfelt family dinners and Thai-inspired evenings for Christmas and New Year, culminating with a dazzling countdown party and fireworks
Phuket, Thailand – The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket, the five-star sanctuary nestled on a secluded island in the Andaman Sea, invites loved ones to share an unforgettable festive season in paradise this December, with a series of dazzling dinners and magical moments to mark Christmas and New Year. Having recently been awarded a highly prestigious MICHELIN Key, this idyllic resort is now rolling out the red carpet for couples, families, solo travelers, and luxury explorers who want to elevate their holiday season to new levels of luxury.
The Christmas Eve Dinner is priced at THB 7,800++ per adult (including selected beverages) and THB 3,800++ per child (6–12 years, including selected soft drinks), while the Christmas Day Dinner is priced at THB 3,400++ per adult (including selected beverages) and THB 1,600++ per child (6–12 years, including selected soft drinks). The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner is priced at THB 19,000++ per adult (including selected beverages) and THB 6,000++ per child (6–12 years, including selected soft drinks). All three events are free-of-charge for kids aged 5 and under.
Thai residents who fled homes following renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, rest at an evacuation center in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
By JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI and SOPHENG CHEANG
SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Amnat Meephew had just enough time to pack up his clothes and flee his home in Thailand a couple of kilometers (miles) from the border with Cambodia, the second time in four months hundreds of thousands of people like him have had to escape fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors.
“Sometimes when I think about it, I tear up. Why are Thais and Cambodians, who are like siblings, fighting?” the 73-year-old said. “Speaking about it makes me want to cry.”
The latest round of clashes along the disputed border erupted on Monday, derailing a ceasefire pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump that ended the previous clashes in July, which killed dozens in both countries.
Officials in Thailand said Wednesday that about 400,000 people have been evacuated, while Cambodia reported more than 127,000 displaced.
Thai residents who fled homes following renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, rest at an evacuation center in Surin province, Thailand, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Unlike during the first round of fighting in July, many Thai evacuees in northeastern Surin province said they left before hearing the sound of fire following early evacuation warnings from local leaders, triggered by a brief skirmish at the Cambodian border on Sunday.
“I could only bring my clothes,” Amnat said. “I even forgot to lock my doors when I left.”
Many took shelter in university halls, sitting or lying on thin mats or in tents erected within their allotted space. Music played to help relieve stress. Health officials checked on evacuees, while volunteers organized activities to entertain children.
Thidarat Homhual also received a warning on Sunday to leave her home about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the border. She teared up as she spoke about the pets she had to leave behind. Her stay in a gymnasium with more than 500 others has been far from comfortable, but she said meals are provided, and support from officials and volunteers helped her cope.
Thai residents who fled homes following the clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers, rest at an evacuation center in Surin province, Thailand, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
“Maybe because this isn’t the first time we’ve lived through something like this, I believe many of us can adapt. Although no one wants to adjust to living like this, I’ll just go with the flow. Otherwise, it would be too stressful,” she said.
Cambodians take shelter in open fields
Across the border in Cambodia, life for evacuees has taken on a rugged rhythm. Many said they left in a hurry after hearing shots on Monday, seeking refuge mostly in an open field.
They erected tents or improvised shelters stitched together with tarps, anchored to the backs of trucks to shield themselves from the wind. People huddled for conversation, meals or sleep. Smoke drifted from small coal stoves where families cooked simple dishes, while others went fishing in a nearby pond to supplement their food.
Loueng Soth arrived at a roadside area in the Cambodian town of Srei Snam with her seven family members. She said conditions have been difficult, and she was praying for the fighting to end as soon as possible.
A woman plays with a dog as she takes refuge at Chonkal district in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after fleeing from home following a fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over territorial claims. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
“I don’t want to stay here and sleep on the ground as I do now,” she said. “I want the war to end so I can return to my home.”
With cool-season temperatures dropping, the chilling winds have made life in the same field even harder for Thai Chea, who on Monday fled his home just a few hundred meters (feet) from the battleground. At the shelter where he is staying, people donned sweaters and gathered around cooking stoves in the early morning to keep warm.
But there is still no sign of when evacuees can return home, as leaders on neither side appear willing to back down.
“I want the war to end as soon as possible, so that I can go back to my home to do my farming work and take care of my dogs and chickens. They are at home with no one looking after them,” Thai Chea said.
A woman, left, walks as she takes refuge at Batthkoa primary school in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, after fleeing from home following a fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over territorial claims. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
