Cambodian Scholar: Thai Ceasefire Conditions ‘Mock International Law’ as Attacks Continue

PHNOM PENH (Dec. 17, 2025) — Cambodia’s leading genocide scholar Youk Chhang has sharply criticized Thailand’s proposed ceasefire conditions, warning that demands framed as peace efforts ring hollow while Thai military operations continue inside Cambodian territory.

Responding to remarks by Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura — who said Thailand would only enter negotiations if Cambodia publicly declares a ceasefire, ensures it holds and cooperates in mine clearance — Chhang said such conditions undermine the principles of international law.

“Vague conditions for peace while continuing to unjustifiably attack civilian populations of a neighboring state make a mockery of international law,” said Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, in a statement Tuesday.

He stressed that Thailand is already bound by a U.S. brokered ceasefire agreement and is obligated to halt hostilities. Instead, he said, Thai forces have intensified operations, including ground incursions, aerial strikes and artillery bombardments, expanding attacks into multiple Cambodian provinces.

“These are not the actions of a mature state seeking self defense,” Chhang said. “They are the actions of a belligerent nation attempting to unlawfully seize the territory of a peaceful country in defiance of international law.”

As of December 15, fifteen civilians were confirmed dead and 74 injured. More than 126,000 families—over 420,000 people—have fled their homes, including women and children. Authorities say essential services in affected districts are nearly paralyzed.

His remarks come amid mounting reports of civilian casualties, mass displacement and damage to homes, schools and cultural heritage sites.

Chhang warned that history will judge actions, not rhetoric. “The world will little note Thailand’s vague conditions for peace,” he said, “but it will long remember Thailand’s unjustified aggression and illegitimate claims against the sovereign nation of Cambodia.”