JRS Welcomes Ceasefire at Thailand–Cambodia Border

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Asia Pacific, which supports refugees and forcibly displaced people across Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia.

The truce took effect at midnight on July 28, following a five-day border conflict that claimed at least 38 lives, most of them civilians.

“This development is a dream realized, a long-awaited resolution that directly responds to the urgent pleas of the Catholic Church for an immediate halt to the brutal violence along the border,” JRS Asia Pacific said in a social media post.

“The conflict’s escalation has tragically cost families their stability, and countless individuals, siblings, parents, and children have suffered the devastating loss of loved ones. We pray both sides will forge an amicable solution that protects their communities from further suffering.”

JRS emphasized that the profound human cost of the crisis underscores the urgent need for both nations to prioritize human lives over political disputes and entrenched divisions.

“Dialogue and reconciliation are not merely options; they are moral imperatives. The suffering of the people living in the border regions must be heard and addressed,” the statement continued.

The longstanding tension between the two countries has often centered on ancient temples and disputed territory along their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border, an issue that has remained unresolved for over a decade.

Following the Angelus prayer on Sunday, July 27, 2025, Pope Leo XIV had specifically prayed for those affected by the border clashes, particularly displaced children and families.

He implored the Prince of Peace to inspire all parties to pursue dialogue and reconciliation, reinforcing the message that every human life possesses an inherent, God-given dignity.

“My heart is close to all those who are suffering due to conflict and violence throughout the world,” said the pope. “May the Prince of Peace inspire everyone to seek dialogue and reconciliation.”

The pope also urged all parties involved to recognize this dignity and cease all actions that violate it, calling for negotiations that would secure a peaceful future for all people and a rejection of anything that threatens it.

Earlier, Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok, who serves as President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand, issued a statement imploring both parties to:

“Recognize the inherent dignity of every human being, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. We must resist divisive ideologies and instead foster a culture of solidarity and genuine fraternity.”