Cambodian Journalists Explore Border Conflict Aftermath in Preah Vihear

From September 9 to 11, 2026, a delegation from the Cambodian Club of Journalists (CCJ), comprising 47 journalists (7 women) from 23 different national and international media institutions, undertook a mission to investigate the impacts of the border conflicts that occurred in 2025 and the current situation in Preah Vihear province and the Preah Vihear Temple heritage area. The program was organized by the CCJ with the support of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), the Preah Vihear Provincial Administration, and the Authority for the Protection and Conservation of the Preah Vihear National Heritage (ARUPVN). On the afternoon of September 9, the group of journalists participated in a roundtable discussion with H.E. Kim Rithy, Governor of Preah Vihear Province, H.E. Kong Puttikara, Director General of ARUPVN, and Brigadier General Ian Sothea, representative of CMAC. The discussion was facilitated by Mr. Pou Kea, President of the CCJ. During the discussion, the Provincial Governor informed the attendees about the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Preah Vihear province. He detailed the provincial administration's efforts to establish temporary shelters for IDPs who are unable to return to their villages due to the lingering presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) left from the conflict. The geographical vulnerabilities of the region and the various government policies aimed at facilitating the daily lives of the IDPs were also presented. The mission aims to understand the realities on the ground in the conflict-affected areas and to widely communicate the challenges for their recovery. Emphasis was placed on the necessity of UXO clearance and the importance of supporting the resettlement of displaced persons.