Social development
Human rights
From clashes to court: Conventional clashes become information war of accusations, denials
Following deadly border clashes, a diplomatic downgrade and land encroachment, Thailand is now moving forward with a series of lawsuits against Cambodia, accusing it of armed aggression and war crimes. ...
Months after US aid cuts, Cambodia’s free press still scrambles to survive
After the Trump administration this year axed most U.S. foreign aid and public broadcasters serving parts of the world with scant press freedom, the fallout laid bare the shaky crutch propping up independent media in underserved regions. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/months-after-us-aid-cuts-cambodias-free-press-still-scrambles-to-survive/
Following conflict, 35,000 displaced remain in sanctuaries
Displaced citizens continue to stay in sanctuaries across four provinces, after homes and infrastructure near the border were damaged or destroyed during the recent border clashes with Thailand. ...
Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/following-conflict-35-000-displaced-remain-in-sanctuaries
Cambodia hands over 353 people to Vietnam
Cambodian authorities on August 15 handed over 353 citizens, identified by Cambodia as illegal residents, to the Border Guard Station at Xa Mat International Border Gate in the southern province of Tay Ninh. ...
Khmer Times staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501739431/cambodia-hands-over-353-people-to-vietnam/
Ministries coordinating school enrolments for 50,000 children of returning migrant workers
Several government ministries are working together to arrange schooling for the estimated 50,000 children who have returned from Thailand with their migrant worker parents. They are helping the parents to enrol their children, while also facilitating the issuance of civil status documents, to ensure that ...
Cambodia condemns ‘Thai military incursions’ into mine-contaminated areas
Cambodia has rejected fresh allegations from Thailand that its forces planted new landmines along the border, calling the claims “unfounded and misleading” and accusing Bangkok of violating ceasefire agreements by sending troops into well-documented mine-contaminated areas. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-condemns-thai-military-incursions-into-mine-contaminated-areas-
Governor dispels dangerous myth: Odour at Preah Vihear camp ‘not from chemical weapons’
The smell reported at the Wat Po 5000 refugee sanctuary in Preah Vihear province’s Kulen district on Wednesday, August 13, was not from poison dropped by drones, but from burning trash and freshly sprayed herbicide, confirmed Kulen district governor Pen Cheung. ...
Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/governor-dispels-dangerous-myth-odour-at-preah-vihear-camp-not-from-chemical-weapons-
Displaced people likely to suffer from mental health conditions due to border conflict
While older villagers living along the border of Cambodia and Thailand can unmistakably identify the loud popping sounds of gunshots, having experienced life under Khmer Rouge, the same sounds caused fear and anxiety for thousands following the recent Cambodia-Thailand conflict. ...
Despite lingering fears, many border residents return home
At the Phnom Thma Kambor sanctuary camp in Banteay Ampil district, thousands of displaced families wait anxiously for the sound of peace, not gunfire. ...
Hong Raksmey and Vong Oun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/despite-lingering-fears-many-border-residents-return-home
Nothing like home – displaced cambodian families leave shelters in droves as calm settles along the border
Thousands of displaced people in shelters in Preah Vihear province have started returning home, finally able to check on their livestock and farms which were abandoned abruptly at the height of the conflict. ...
Ceasefire brings hope for return; military attachés call for lasting peace
On a humid morning earlier this week, Nhay Suy sat at the Wat Phnom Thma Kambor sanctuary centre in Po Chas village, watching tuk-tuks and tractors with trailers slowly roll away. One by one, families who had fled the Thai-Cambodian border clashes in late July ...
Hong Raksmey and Vong Oun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ceasefire-brings-hope-for-return-military-attach-s-call-for-lasting-peace
18 Cambodian soldiers detained by Thai military confirmed safe and healthy
Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Defense, confirmed that all 18 Cambodian soldiers currently detained by Thai military are safe and in good health, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which recently visited them. ...
Information ministry laud facilitation of international coverage of conflict
A ministry of Information spokesperson has shared that more than 100 domestic and international journalists reported on the recent armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. ...
Niem Chheng
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/information-ministry-laud-facilitation-of-international-coverage-of-conflict
Cambodia-Thailand clashes lull, social media battles carry on
Shelling between Thai and Cambodian forces has eased after a fragile ceasefire was reached in Malaysia on July 28, but the information war between the countries’ netizens continues to unfold online. ...
Rafael Liebowitz-Thayer
https://cambojanews.com/cambodia-thailand-clashes-lull-social-media-battles-carry-on/
The information that should and shouldn’t be shared during conflict
The spread of false information on social media platforms has stirred public confusion and fear, and most worryingly, has disrupted military and police investigations. This has even extended to alerting the enemy to the capture of their own intelligence operatives, warned Cambodia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Department. ...
Phak Seangly
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/the-information-that-should-and-shouldn-t-be-shared-during-conflict
Online scam crackdown: thousands held, deportations underway
Thousands of foreign nationals were arrested in a nationwide crackdown on suspected online scam operations in July—some deported, while others await deportation, and many remain in detention at provincial facilities and the General Department of Immigration (GDI). ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/online-scam-crackdown-thousands-held-deportations-underway/
Information ministry appeals for public to cease social media attacks on foreign leaders
The Ministry of Information has issued an urgent call for all content creators, social media users and members of the public to immediately cease any form of insult or defamation targeting foreign heads of state or leaders, even in the context of current border tensions. ...
Officials warn of Thai ‘disinformation campaign’
Thailand is employing information warfare tactics and conducting a disinformation campaign to fabricate pretexts for its military aggression against Cambodia, all while falsely portraying itself as the victim, according to Cambodian officials. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-warn-of-thai-disinformation-campaign-
Defence ministry: Thailand escalate conflict with fresh assaults, create disinformation
At 2am this morning, Thailand launched a heavy artillery attack on Cambodian territory in the Eagle Field area of Preah vihear. At 2.30am, Thai forces began attacking Tathav, Phnom 333 and Phnom Khmoach and launched drones. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/defence-ministry-thailand-escalate-conflict-with-fresh-assaults-create-disinformation
Bringing truth to the public: Asian media leaders tackle disinformation at AMS 2025
As the 20th Asia Media Summit (AMS 2025) launched in Siem Reap on July 22, a resounding message emerged from media leaders across the Asia-Pacific region. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bringing-truth-to-the-public-asian-media-leaders-tackle-disinformation-at-ams-2025
Cambodia will raise ‘fake news’ issues at Asia Media Summit, Thailand absent
Cambodia will spotlight the growing challenges of fake news, malinformation and disinformation at this year’s 20th Asia Media Summit (AMS), which will take place in Siem Reap from July 21 to 24. Notably, Thailand will not participate in this year’s summit. ...
Hong Raksmey
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-will-raise-fake-news-issues-at-asia-media-summit-thailand-absent
Eight more foreigners charged as online scam crackdown arrests reach almost 3,000
The investigating judge of the Phnom Penh Municipal placed eight suspects linked to online scams in temporary pre-trial detention on July 20, as part of the latest efforts to supress these crimes. The current campaign has seen almost 3,000 suspects arrested. ...
Senator’s casino, fleeing compound not hit in growing scam raids
Raids on suspected online scam rings rolled out across Cambodia on Thursday night, but major known compounds were left untouched – even as hundreds were seen fleeing one of them and boarding buses, underscoring reports that operations had continued despite a supposed crackdown last year. ...
Coby Hobbs and Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/senators-casino-fleeing-compound-not-hit-in-growing-scam-raids/
Online fraud crackdown continues; China pledges swift repatriation of Chinese suspects
As of July 19, law enforcement authorities in the capital and provinces had raided 52 suspected online scam operations in Phnom Penh and 14 provinces. They have detained a total of 2,767 suspects, including 843 Chinese nationals. Of them, authorities have sent 11 suspects to ...