Thailand and Cambodia have once again erupted into a new round of armed conflict over border residency issues. As the rotating chair country, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar stated that he has already contacted the prime ministers of both Thailand and Cambodia to discuss the latest situation.
Anwar said: “Yesterday (the 18th), I already discussed the latest situation at the Thai-Cambodian border with Thai Prime Minister Anutin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.”
The Prime Minister made this response when pressed by reporters about the latest Thai-Cambodian conflict after officiating the opening of the ‘2025 Global Halal Summit’ (GHaS) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur on Friday morning (September 19).
According to reports, on Thursday (the 18th), a Thai military unit at the two countries’ border fired tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of Cambodian residents alleged to be illegally residing on Thai territory, driving them out of their homes and resulting in at least 30 injuries, including one soldier and a monk.
Hun Manet promptly issued a statement condemning the Thai military for the excessive use of force, stating that driving out these 20 households has already violated the earlier ceasefire agreement signed between the two countries.
He also claimed that the Thai military plans to use force to seize 17 territories in the west and southwest of Cambodia, posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability.