At a Thai university serving as a shelter for displaced residents, Kanlaya Somjettana remains hesitant to return home even after a truce temporarily ended weeks of border clashes with Cambodia, fearing the violence may resume.
Some evacuees began returning on Sunday, a day after the ceasefire was declared, but many chose to wait for official confirmation that it was safe. Previous broken truces have left people on both sides of the border skeptical about the agreement.
“I hope this ceasefire lasts so we can go home,” said 21-year-old homemaker Kanlaya from Surin city, Thailand. “But I won’t return until authorities confirm it is safe.” She noted that the evacuation center was less crowded than before, though hundreds still remained.
Across the border in Cambodia, 35-year-old So Choeun, expecting to give birth soon, expressed similar caution. Sheltering with her family in makeshift tents at a Buddhist pagoda in Banteay Meanchey province, she said, “Despite the ceasefire, we dare not go home yet. We will watch the situation for a few days to see if it stays calm.”
Officials on both sides reported that the ceasefire, now one day old, was holding, but no all-clear had been issued for most areas. The truce follows three weeks of renewed fighting that claimed at least 47 lives and displaced over a million people. A previous flare-up in July also ended in a short-lived truce.
For some, like rice and cassava farmer Saichon Wongpitak from Thailand’s Sisaket province, returning home was unavoidable. “There’s been no gunfire since yesterday, so we’ll go back,” said the 38-year-old. “We are fearful, but we have farms, livestock, and jobs to care for. If fighting resumes, we’ll evacuate again.” She added she did not fully trust Cambodia to maintain peace.
Under the ceasefire, both countries agreed to halt fighting, freeze troop movements, and allow civilians in border areas to return home. Thailand also committed to releasing 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July within 72 hours.
In Cambodia, 43-year-old Kot Ngik said she was grateful for the truce, which might allow children to return to school, but admitted distrust toward the Thai military. “We don’t know if fighting could start again at any moment,” she said.
Despite lingering fears, some displaced residents, like So Choeun, see signs of hope. “I heard loud bangs yesterday morning, but nothing since noon,” she said. “This is a good sign.”
