🔥 Tensions flared again this week as Thailand and Cambodia traded blame for deadly border clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple complex. At least five lives were lost in what locals describe as "the worst violence since July's ceasefire."
💔 Cambodia reports four civilian fatalities – including a 14-year-old student – while Thailand confirms one soldier killed. Dramatic footage shows families fleeing burning villages, their belongings piled onto motorcycles and oxcarts. "It's like a war movie scene," one evacuee told our team via WhatsApp voice note.
🤝 The 2025 peace deal now hangs by a thread as both nations deploy fresh troops to the disputed 11th-century Hindu temple zone. Analysts warn the conflict could impact ASEAN economic cooperation plans set to launch in Q1 2026.
🌐 Why it matters: This flashpoint conflict combines historical grudges, resource disputes, and modern geopolitics. With tourism just recovering post-pandemic, new instability could hit both nations' economies hard.
📢 UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged restraint today, stating: "Dialogue must prevail over destruction." Meanwhile, TikTok activists are trending #PeaceForPreahVihear across Southeast Asia.
