10 December 2025, Berlin, Germany
The International Peace Bureau (IPB) strongly calls for the immediate implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord signed on October 26, 2025, and urges both Thailand and Cambodia to exercise maximum restraint. With field-level tensions rising and initial ceasefire breaches reported, we call on ASEAN, the United Nations, and all regional stakeholders to actively support mediation efforts and engage constructively to prevent further escalation.
Given growing resistance on the ground from some military elements, we urge both sides to avoid further escalation and return to the commitments made in Kuala Lumpur. Dialogue involving key stakeholders is essential to prevent the situation from widening and to keep the dispute within diplomatic channels. We emphasize the need to prioritize civilian safety and to refrain from actions that undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The territorial dispute has resulted in mounting casualties and displaced families on both sides. Reports indicate that approximately 400,000 people have been evacuated from border areas, with evacuation centers struggling to accommodate families who fled with little warning. Rising numbers of deaths and injuries among both civilians and military personnel underscore the human cost of this conflict. As accusations continue, it is communities along the border – people losing homes, livelihoods, and access to school – who bear the heaviest burden. These clashes serve no one’s long-term interests and only deepen fear and insecurity.
The IPB calls for immediate action: Both governments must honor their commitments under the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord and immediately cease all military operations. We urge ASEAN, particularly the Philippines as ASEAN chair, along with the United Nations, to actively mediate this dispute. Humanitarian corridors must be opened without delay, and aid workers must have safe and unimpeded access. Both governments must reactivate the General Border Committee and Regional Border Committee, deploy neutral ASEAN observers as stipulated in the October agreement, and adhere strictly to international humanitarian law. We call for a neutral investigation of alleged ceasefire violations, and for both sides to provide transparent information to prevent misinformation.
We recognize that lasting peace requires addressing the underlying territorial dispute through sustained diplomatic engagement. We encourage both nations to resume technical consultations on border demarcation under international mediation. This conflict threatens not only bilateral relations but regional stability, and diverts resources desperately needed for development and cross-border cooperation that benefits communities on both sides.
We call on governments, media, and civilians to remain vigilant against misinformation, fake news, and scams circulating online which further inflame tensions. We strongly condemn both the violence and the spread of false information surrounding it. We express deep appreciation for civil society actors and volunteers working tirelessly to assist affected families and call on the international community to provide humanitarian funding and support for local organizations responding to this crisis.
The International Peace Bureau remains committed to supporting all efforts toward a peaceful, negotiated resolution. We stand ready to contribute to dialogue processes and to support civil society peacebuilding initiatives. Border communities in Cambodia and Thailand, who have lived side by side for generations, deserve safety and the chance to rebuild their lives without fear. We urge all parties to choose the path of peace, to honor their commitments under the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, and to work together toward a future where communities on both sides of the border can live without the threat of renewed violence.