More than 2,500 Buddhist monks in Cambodia held a march and ceremony last Friday to honor soldiers killed in recent border clashes with Thai forces and to pray for peace between the two countries. Along the way, the march paused briefly at the US embassy as a show of gratitude for US President Donald Trump’s efforts to accomplish a ceasefire.
The monks marched from Cambodia’s main Buddhist religious school near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh to a nearby temple, where they were joined by nuns and laypeople. Inside the temple, photographs of more than 40 uniformed men were displayed. It was unclear whether all were among the dead or included wounded and captured soldiers.
The ceremony comes after five days of fighting that began late last month, leaving dozens dead on both sides, including civilians, and displacing more than 260,000 people along the border. Cambodia has confirmed the deaths of six of its soldiers.
A ceasefire, in place since 29 July, has largely halted major fighting, although both sides have accused the other of violating the truce. The underlying territorial dispute remains unresolved.
Ven. Khem Sorn, chief monk of Phnom Penh, said the gathering was intended both to honor those killed and to support the government’s efforts toward peace. “It means that we only want to live side-by-side with Thailand as a good neighbor, living with unity and peace with each other,” he remarked. (Associated Press) He also appealed to all Buddhist countries, especially Thailand, to seek peaceful coexistence.
“This is the spirit of a nation that loves and desires peace,” Ven. Khem Sorn added. “If any side wishes to continue fighting, that is their choice. But for Cambodians, especially the monks who follow Buddhism, our spirit is to protect peace. Even if false statements are made about our country, if we remain truthful and united, we will prevail.” (Khmer Times)
The recent hostilities were sparked by a land mine explosion in disputed territory that wounded five Thai soldiers, occurring a week after a similar incident. The flare-up is the latest in a decades-old dispute over several small pockets of land along the 800-kilometer border.
Under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to delay key trade talks, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to the current ceasefire on 28 July. High-level talks in Malaysia reaffirmed the truce but did not resolve the fate of 18 Cambodian soldiers captured by Thailand after the ceasefire took effect. Thai officials stated that the men were being held in accordance with international humanitarian law and would be released when “active hostilities” fully cease.
Ven. Chhoeng Bunchhea, vice-president of the Cambodian Buddhist Monk Council, expressed gratitude to Trump for his role in mediating a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, saying: “The people of both Thailand and Cambodia deserve to live in peace and without fear. Today, 70,000 Cambodian Buddhist monks wholeheartedly support our Prime Minister’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of your historic contribution to advancing world peace.” (Khmer Times)
Both the US and China, which played active roles in brokering the truce, welcomed the 6 August recommitment to the ceasefire. Officials from both countries expressed readiness to support further steps toward a peaceful resolution.
Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng emphasized the commitment to peace among Cambodians and the wish that Cambodian soldiers detained in Thailand be sent home. “This march is also to show the international community that Cambodians, both monks and laypeople, desire peace,” he said. “We urge the world to help mediate this issue so Cambodia can enjoy full peace and development. Cambodia is currently facing serious violations from a neighboring country, which has detained our soldiers without release. We call for their return and for negotiations through peaceful means.” (Khmer Times)
The ceremony in Phnom Penh reflects the prominent role of Buddhism in Cambodian society, where more than 97 per cent of the population identify as Theravada Buddhists. Monastic leaders often serve as moral voices in times of national crisis, calling for compassion, reconciliation, and an end to violence.
See more
Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Cambodia gather to praise ceasefire with Thailand and mourn the dead (Associated Press)
Monks march for peace, ceasefire respect and soldiers’ release (VIDEO) (Khmer Times)
Over 1,000 Buddhist monks honor Cambodia’s fallen soldiers in solemn ceremony (WION)
Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Cambodia gather to praise ceasefire with Thailand and mourn the dead (WDIO)
Cambodian Buddhist monks march to support peace with Thailand (Yahoo News)
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