PHNOM PENH: As Cambodia approaches the first anniversary of the outbreak of the 2025 Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra has highlighted July 24 as a defining date in the Kingdom’s recent history, saying it should be remembered as the day the Thai military launched its armed aggression against Cambodian territory.
In a series of social media posts published ahead of the anniversary, Pheaktra recounted what the Cambodian government describes as the events leading to the clashes, while noting that preserving an accurate historical record is essential for future generations.
According to the minister, July 24, 2025, was “not an ordinary date” but a turning point when Thai forces launched attacks on Cambodian positions near Ta Mone Thom Temple in Oddar Meanchey province, triggering fighting that later spread to several sectors along the shared border.
He said the conflict followed weeks of rising tensions, beginning with an incident on May 28, 2025, when, according to the Cambodian government, Thai troops entered an area occupied by Cambodian forces and fatally shot Cambodian soldier Suon Roun.
Pheaktra said the shooting reflected a pattern of what Cambodia views as repeated provocations and violations of its sovereignty that ultimately escalated into armed conflict.
“Cambodia did not seek war. However, Cambodia has the full and inherent right to defend its territory, its people and its sovereignty against any act of external aggression,” he wrote.
The minister said July 24 should be remembered not only as the day fighting began but also as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Cambodian armed forces, border police and civilians, as well as the importance of safeguarding what he described as the historical truth.
He argued that Thai military force, fighter aircraft, heavy bombs, razor-wire barriers and attempts to create “facts on the ground” could neither alter internationally recognised borders nor erase what Cambodia considers the reality of the conflict.
Physical evidence of the conflict
Pheaktra also pointed to what he described as physical evidence of the fighting, including an unexploded MK-84 bomb dropped by the Royal Thai Air Force on a civilian home in Oddar Meanchey province.
According to him, the bomb remains a silent witness to the conflict and evidence of what Cambodia describes as the violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“This bomb is not merely a remnant of an attack. It is a silent witness to aggression, evidence of the violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a stark demonstration of disregard for the safety, lives and property of innocent civilians,” he wrote.
The minister also highlighted Ta Mone Senchey Pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province as another site that, he said, bears witness to the destruction caused during the conflict.
The pagoda, a sacred place of worship for Cambodian Buddhists, was struck by an MK-82 bomb, according to the minister.
He said the attack on the religious site and nearby civilian areas illustrated the indiscriminate nature of the military action, causing damage not only to buildings and infrastructure but also to places of worship while spreading fear among local communities.
Pheaktra described the destruction at the pagoda as an enduring scar on Cambodia’s history and evidence of the use of fighter aircraft and heavy munitions on Cambodian territory, actions which he characterised as aggression, a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and disregard for international law.
Tensions remain
Nearly one year after the outbreak of the fighting, Thai forces continue to occupy positions in several areas that Phnom Penh says lie within Cambodian territory in Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear and Pursat provinces.
Cambodian authorities have repeatedly accused Thai troops of constructing military fortifications, installing shipping containers and razor-wire barriers, carrying out engineering works and clearing land in those areas.
Phnom Penh has lodged a series of diplomatic protests, arguing that such activities violate Cambodia’s sovereignty and the ceasefire reached in December 2025.
Despite the continuing tensions, Cambodia says it remains committed to resolving border disputes peacefully through bilateral mechanisms and international law, including the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), while separately pursuing compulsory conciliation proceedings under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) over maritime issues.
Concluding his message, Pheaktra said history should preserve the memory of the conflict.
“Cambodia remembers. The Cambodian people remember. And history will record every act of aggression, every bomb dropped and every destruction inflicted upon Cambodian territory,” he wrote. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
