Vicar of Phnom Penh laments that ‘bulldozers are razing Cambodian homes’ despite ceasefire
Despite a ceasefire in effect since 27 December, tensions remain high along the border between Cambodia and Thailand. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler slams the world's indifference to the violence affecting civilians, citing destruction, displacement, and the indiscriminate use of force. Cambodia accuses Thailand of illegally occupying parts of its territory, while Thailand complains of fresh Cambodian violations of the ceasefire and threatens retaliation.
Bangkok/Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) – Despite a ceasefire, peace has not returned to the border region between Thailand and Cambodia. On the contrary, the use of force continues to prevail, something taking place in other parts of the world as well.
This is the central idea of the appeal issued yesterday by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh. In his statement, titled "Silence," he criticises the international community for its lack of interest in the indiscriminate use of force against the most vulnerable.
“The world is debating the legitimacy of US intervention in Venezuela… but at the same time, Thai bulldozers are razing Cambodian homes for miles, while barbed wire and shipping containers are blocking access to villages. Silence from the world! Silence from all international institutions! Silence!” he lamented.
“Temples, sacred places par excellence for the veneration of the gods and the memory of humanity, have been reduced to dust. The world is silent! Despite a ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of civilians and children remain in squalid camps. Everyone is silent!” he added.
Yet “today, Cambodia also wants its voice heard, demanding justice and reparations on the world stage where the power of force seems to have become the new norm!” Bishop Schmitthaeusler said, highlighting the injustices suffered by Cambodia.
“Silence, certainly, to pray to God to enlighten us, to grant wisdom and discernment to world leaders so that we may walk the paths of truth, law, and justice. But certainly not silence to remain silent and allow the innocent to be humiliated and scorned, as if there were any hierarchy of values in human lives!”
In his reflection (in French) published on Ad Extra, the prelate mentions humanity's journey in its quest to build peace. “From Greek philosophers to Christian thinkers, can 2,500 years of long labour to build the values of democracy, freedom and the sovereignty of peoples be swept away in a few months in the name of geopolitical interests and in contempt of international law, and even more so of the little people who are the new martyrs of this twenty-first century?”
The contexts of war may be different, “Ukraine, Gaza, Cambodia, Venezuela”, but “Does power only belong to the strongest?” the prelate asked.
In Cambodia, despite the signing of a new ceasefire on 27 December, the situation remains tense. According to the country’s authorities, Thailand continues to illegally occupy parts of Cambodian territory.
Cambodia lacks an army, and especially an air force, comparable to Thailand's. Since the outbreak of hostilities in July, it has stressed that it is the weaker party and is constantly under attack from the Thai military, which, on the contrary, appears to be using the conflict for domestic political purposes.
At a press conference on Monday, Pen Bona, a Cambodian government spokesperson, stated that the Thai army had destroyed homes and civilian infrastructure on Cambodian soil, including using barbed wire and flags to seize civilian land.
“Such actions not only caused severe loss and damage to civilian properties and infrastructure but also hindered the return of displaced civilians to their homes and normal livelihoods, which clearly contravenes the spirit of Point 4 of the Joint Statement adopted on Dec. 27, 2025,” the spokesperson said, implying that although most of the violations occurred before the ceasefire was signed, Thailand’s illegal actions continued even after the ceasefire was adopted.
While the two Southeast Asian countries have not yet established a path to settle the situation along the border, hundreds of thousands of people on both sides remain displaced.
For its part, Thailand has accused Cambodia of wounding a Thai soldier in the latest incident, a mortar attack, violating the peace deal, for which Cambodia has apologised. As a result, the Thai military said that it warned Cambodian forces to exercise caution, stressing that if a similar incident occurred again, Thailand may need to retaliate.
In recent months, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has adopted a strongly nationalist stance, likely in an attempt to rally the population ahead of the upcoming general elections, scheduled for 8 February.
“At the military-to-military level, we have been told the incident was an accident, but we are seeking clarification on how responsibility will be taken,” the prime minister said.
On Tuesday Cambodia's Ministry of Defence proposed a bilateral border committee meeting with its Thai counterparts, to be held in Cambodia's Siem Reap province by the end of the month.
Thailand, however, had previously stated that the next government, the one that will emerge from the upcoming elections, would address the issue.
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03/06/2022 17:17
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