Cambodia evacuated about 250 families from Prey Chan after gunfire during a border exchange left one Cambodian dead and three wounded. The incident came two days after a Thai soldier lost a foot to a land mine, prompting Thailand to suspend parts of an October truce that had been brokered with U.S. mediation support. Both sides traded accusations—Cambodia calling for an independent investigation and Thailand alleging Cambodian violations including new mine-laying and firing from civilian areas. ASEAN observers joined a monitoring team amid concerns the ceasefire could unravel.
Cambodia Evacuates Border Village After Deadly Shooting as Thailand-Cambodia Tensions Flare
Cambodia evacuated about 250 families from Prey Chan after gunfire during a border exchange left one Cambodian dead and three wounded. The incident came two days after a Thai soldier lost a foot to a land mine, prompting Thailand to suspend parts of an October truce that had been brokered with U.S. mediation support. Both sides traded accusations—Cambodia calling for an independent investigation and Thailand alleging Cambodian violations including new mine-laying and firing from civilian areas. ASEAN observers joined a monitoring team amid concerns the ceasefire could unravel.
07:04 PM, 11/13/2025Conflict
Cambodia Evacuates Border Village After Deadly Shooting
Cambodia on Thursday evacuated roughly 250 families from Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province after gunfire along the disputed Thai border left one local dead and three others wounded, officials said.
The incident followed a land mine blast two days earlier that cost a Thai soldier a foot while patrolling another stretch of the frontier. Thailand blamed Cambodia for the blast and said it would suspend parts of a ceasefire agreement that had received U.S. support during mediation efforts.
Evacuation and local impact
Ly Sovannarith, vice governor of Banteay Meanchey, said about 250 families from Prey Chan were moved to a Buddhist temple roughly 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border for safety. The man killed in Wednesday’s shooting was identified as Dy Nai; three other people were wounded.
Prey Chan was previously the site of a violent but nonfatal clash in September between Thai security personnel and Cambodian villagers, underlining the ongoing volatility in the area.
Diplomatic and military responses
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry escorted a ceasefire-monitoring team to the area on Thursday. The observer delegation included officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Prime Minister Hun Manet called for an independent investigation into the shooting to ensure accountability for those affected. Hun Manet also accused Thai forces of "numerous provocative actions for many days" intended to instigate clashes, while stressing that Cambodia would continue to honor the terms of the ceasefire.
Thai military response: The Thai army said Cambodian soldiers fired into a district of Sa Kaeo province and that Thai forces "fired warning shots in response." Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree denied Cambodia's claims that Thailand initiated the shooting and accused Cambodian forces of using civilian areas as cover, calling that conduct a violation of humanitarian principles.
Historical context
The two neighbors have a long history of rivalry. Modern disputes over territory largely trace back to differing interpretations of a 1907 map from the French colonial era. In 1962 the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty to Cambodia over a zone that includes the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple — a decision that continues to fuel nationalist sentiment on both sides.
Both countries signed a more detailed truce in October, but many provisions remain unimplemented, and the agreement does not provide a clear mechanism for resolving the deep-rooted territorial disagreement.
Outlook: With ASEAN observers on site and calls for an independent probe, regional diplomacy will play a key role in preventing further escalation. For now, local residents remain displaced and tensions along the border stay high.