(Phnom Penh): Calls for a ceasefire carry moral weight only when they are anchored in truth and accountability. In moments of heightened tension, language matters, not as a tool to obscure responsibility, but as a means to restore trust and stability.
Cambodia has consistently demonstrated restraint and a genuine commitment to peace along its borders. It is therefore necessary to clarify the facts surrounding recent calls for a ceasefire, particularly in light of repeated attempts to shift responsibility away from the party that initiated the breach.
1. Responsibility must begin with the initiator.
A ceasefire cannot be selective, nor can it be imposed asymmetrically. The fundamental principle is clear: the party that initiated the incursion and violated the ceasefire bears the responsibility to stop first. Cambodia did not initiate hostilities, nor did it provoke the situation. Any sincere appeal for de-escalation must begin with concrete actions by the side that crossed the line.
2. Cambodia has acted in good faith; the breach did not originate from Cambodia.
Throughout this period, Cambodia has upheld restraint, acted transparently, and honored its commitments. It was the Thai side that breached the ceasefire in the first place. To suggest otherwise not only distorts the facts, but also undermines the credibility of ceasefire mechanisms themselves. Peace cannot be sustained when responsibility is denied.
3. Accountability cannot be outsourced.
It is neither fair nor reasonable to expect Cambodia to clear landmines deployed by Thai forces. International norms are unambiguous: responsibility for the removal of explosive hazards lies with the party that placed them. Asking Cambodia to shoulder this burden would amount to absolving the responsible party of accountability—an approach that sets a dangerous precedent.
Cambodia does not reject peace; on the contrary, it has consistently chosen dialogue over escalation. But peace must be built on honesty, responsibility, and mutual respect—not on narratives that invert cause and consequence.
A ceasefire that ignores these principles is not a pathway to stability. It is merely a pause without resolution. Cambodia remains ready to engage constructively, provided that commitments are respected and responsibility is clearly acknowledged.
This article was written by Rachna IM, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia.
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