July 25, 2025

The Khmer Movement for Democracy (KMD) supports the call by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for urgent de-escalation of the deadly clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.

At least 12 people are known to have been killed so far. The absolute priority must be to prevent further loss of life and we call on both sides to halt their attacks.

We support the position of Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the efforts of His Excellency Mr Anwar Ibrahim to secure an end to the clashes by negotiating with the Thai and Cambodian leadership.

The territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia are complex and date back to the colonial period. They can only finally be solved by international law. The KMD believes that the best way to achieve a final resolution of the disputes lies in a definitive judgement, or series of judgements, from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

We call on Thailand to recognize the jurisdiction of the ICJ and to commit to accepting its legal rulings.

The Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia in 1991 are relevant to the current dispute as they provide an international legal framework for stability in the region. The agreements commit Cambodia to a democratic system of regular free and fair elections, as well as neutrality in foreign policy. The KMD believes that the implementation of these objectives would be an effective step in averting potential flashpoints and ensuring peace.