4:00 PM, August 11, 2025

Intervention by H.E. Pen Bona, Royal Government Spokesperson:

 

 

Before concluding this afternoon’s press briefing, I would like to highlight the following points:

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First, the Peace Walk by 2569 monks on Sunday, August 10, 2025, is an event reflecting the efforts of Cambodian citizens both at home and abroad, who have united to demand peace. This event clearly demonstrates that the Cambodian people, including Buddhists and followers of other religions, predominantly cherish peace and aspire to live in harmony with neighboring countries as well as with the international community worldwide. In this sense, Cambodians, more than anything, despise war, and we wish to advocate peace to the world.

 

Second, the 5-day armed conflict from July 24 to July 28, 2025, had caused severe impacts on both the military and civilians. Notably, many civilian objects were destroyed by Thai artillery shells, including pagodas, health centers, schools, villages, residential areas, and communal spaces, resulting in deaths, injuries, and thousands of displaced civilians, most of whom are children, the elderly, and women. Additionally, the long-term effects of war remnants, such as unexploded ordnance like MK 84 bombs, cluster bombs, and other unexploded munitions buried in the ground, pose ongoing dangers to civilians.

 

Third, at this point, we have come to learn the significance of peace, the desire for peace, and the strong will to protect peace, driven by our leadership and the Cambodian people. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude toward the diplomatic missions, the foreign military attachés, the ASEAN military attachés, and other relevant international partners who have visited the affected areas to witness firsthand the destruction caused by the Thai military attack on Cambodia’s civilian objects.

 

Thank you.