Key facts
- Over 20,000 Cambodian civilians are still displaced along the Thai border.
More than 20,000 Cambodian civilians remain displaced along the border with Thailand following last year's fighting, according to UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews. He urged Thailand and Cambodia to work together to expedite their return and called for a crackdown on scam centers.
The ongoing displacement of Cambodian civilians and the economic impact of closed borders highlight persistent bilateral tensions and humanitarian concerns. The proliferation of scam centers also points to significant human rights challenges and potential corruption within Cambodia.
More than 20,000 Cambodian civilians remain displaced along the country's border with Thailand following two rounds of fighting last year, according to UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews. Andrews, who visited the disputed frontier, stated that it is a matter of international law for displaced civilians to have the right to return to their homes and urged both Thailand and Cambodia to work together to expedite this process.
Thailand has previously denied accusations of illegally occupying Cambodian territory, asserting adherence to a bilateral ceasefire agreement. Border crossings between the two nations remain closed, a situation that Andrews noted has significantly impacted Cambodia's economy and its border communities reliant on trade.
In addition to the border displacement, Andrews highlighted a "cyberscam crisis" as a major human rights challenge and economic headwind for Cambodia. He reported that authorities have closed over 600 scam locations, suspended licenses for 29 casinos, and initiated criminal proceedings against approximately 3,000 scam operators. However, Andrews also pointed out that the government has not yet taken action against influential Cambodian officials credibly linked to these online scam operations.