We, the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC), express our deepest sympathy and solidarity with the families affected by the recent military confrontations along the Cambodian-Thai border. The peoples of Cambodia and Thailand deserve a future rooted in peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and good neighbourliness. There is no alternative to a fraternal and cooperative relationship between our two nations.

Our vision of sustainable peace goes beyond the absence of war. As stated in our Peacebuilding Strategy “A sustainable, positive peace involves more than the absence of war and physical violence. For peace to be sustainable, we must nurture the attitudes, institutions and structures that create and sustain a peaceful society and overcome all forms of violence—physical, cultural, and structural.” (CCC Peacebuilding Strategy, p.6)

We welcome:

· The launch of de-escalation talks initiated under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and with observation from the United States and China.

· The activation of ASEAN mechanisms in line with Article 23 to uphold peaceful dispute settlement and facilitate mediation and observer missions.

We remain concerned that, as long as the root cause of the conflict an unresolved border demarcation remains unaddressed, there is a persistent risk of escalation with devastating consequences for civilians. Human security must be placed at the centre of all political decisions. We have witnessed that military means cannot bring an end to civilian suffering.

Our Calls to Action

To ASEAN:

· Ensure an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and actively monitor its implementation.

· Facilitate troop withdrawal by both countries at least 5 kilometers from the disputed areas to reduce the risk of miscalculation.

· Deploy independent observers to monitor compliance and restore trust.

· Reopen land borders to allow the movement of people and goods.

· Discourage provocative nationalist rhetoric, and instead promote a policy of dialogue and

reconciliation.

· Activate Track II diplomacy and engage the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation to facilitate dialogue between all stakeholders.

· Enable third-party mediation (e.g., via ASEAN, UN, France, Japan, or Oman) to help both parties reach a long-term, mutually agreed solution.

· Support civil society peacebuilding initiatives, especially those led by communities along the border.

· Prioritize protection and humanitarian support for displaced persons and those most affected.

To the Governments of Cambodia and Thailand:

· Immediately halt all provocative military actions and inflammatory public statements.

· Resume bilateral mechanisms such as the Joint Boundary Commission to address the root causes.

· Pull back troops from forward positions and avoid further militarization of the border.

To the International Community:

· Support ASEAN-led peace efforts and, where needed, offer neutral third-party facilitation through credible mediators.

· Help ensure the protection of human rights of affected populations, especially displaced civilians and ethnic minorities.

To our Commitment as Cambodian Civil Society:

· Engage in cross-border confidence-building efforts with Thai civil society.

· Elevate CSOs and border communities as active peace actors.

· Work with Thai counterparts to counter disinformation, hate speech, and polarization.

· Promote a shared vision of a peaceful and cooperative neighbourhood, founded on mutual dignity, respect, and inclusive development.

We believe the future of Cambodia and Thailand lies in peace, cooperation, and unity not conflict.