Displaced Thais and Cambodians Hesitate to Return Home After Truce

Residents along the Thai-Cambodian border remain hesitant to return home, even after a ceasefire was announced on December 27, 2023, ending three weeks of intense clashes that resulted in at least 47 fatalities and displaced over 1 million people. The truce has raised hopes but also concerns among evacuees who fear that the violence may resume.

At a university in Surin, Thailand, which has served as a shelter for those fleeing the conflict, Kanlaya Somjettana expressed her reluctance to return home. The 21-year-old homemaker stated, “I really hope this ceasefire will last long and we can return home. But I will not go back home as long as authorities do not confirm that it is safe.” Many evacuees have opted to wait for official assurances before making the journey back, citing a lack of trust in the ceasefire’s durability.

On the Cambodian side of the border, So Choeun, a 35-year-old woman expecting a baby, also remains wary. Currently sheltered in makeshift tents at a Buddhist pagoda in Banteay Meanchey, she said, “Despite the ceasefire, we dare not return home yet. We are still frightened.” The ongoing fear of renewed violence is palpable among those displaced, as many have experienced previous ceasefires that were quickly broken.

Officials from both countries reported that the ceasefire was holding as of Sunday, December 28, but many areas have yet to receive an all-clear notice. The latest round of conflict marked a continuation of a decades-long struggle, with a similar flare-up occurring in July 2023, which also resulted in significant casualties and displacement.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, both nations have agreed to halt military engagements, freeze troop movements, and facilitate the return of civilians to their homes. Thailand is also set to return 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during the July fighting within 72 hours.

Despite the truce, some evacuees, like rice and cassava farmer Saichon Wongpitak, feel the need to return to their homes. Aged 38, she announced her plan to head back to her residence in Thailand’s Sisaket province. “I talked to our neighbor who said there was no gunfire since yesterday,” Saichon explained. While she noted her family’s readiness to evacuate again if necessary, she remains skeptical about the truce’s longevity, saying, “I live on the border, and what I have learned is not to trust Cambodia.”

Others echoed similar sentiments. Kot Ngik, a 43-year-old resident from another camp in Banteay Meanchey, expressed gratitude for the ceasefire, highlighting its potential to allow children to return to school. “But we don’t trust the Thai military yet,” she cautioned. “At this point, we are not sure about the situation. They can fight again at any time.”

While many evacuees remain too fearful to leave their shelters, some, like So Choeun, find a glimmer of hope in the ceasefire. “Yesterday morning, I could hear loud bangs, but I have not heard it since 12 pm yesterday. This is a good sign,” she remarked, reflecting a cautious optimism shared by many in the region.

The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border remains fluid as families grapple with the uncertainty of their future in the wake of a tenuous peace. For now, the truce has provided a momentary reprieve, but many are left wondering how long it will hold and what the path forward will look like.