Second Message from the Cambodian People to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America
Yesterday, we respectfully conveyed a message to Your Honorable President, requesting your consideration of the possibility of countering and taking action regarding the Thai use of F-16 jets bombing deep within Cambodian territory. Thailand has also completely rejected the ceasefire initiated by Your Honorable, which has been fully welcomed and supported by Samdech Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as well as by the Cambodian people.
Indeed, Thailand's war of aggression has gone beyond the goal of ending hostilities that Your Honorable initiated. Nevertheless, as Cambodians, we do not wish for this conflict to persist. We have expressed our full support for your efforts and sincerely hope for the swift restoration of peace, bringing an end to the bloodshed suffered by both soldiers and innocent civilians. Furthermore, we have all seen that Thailand has not only rejected your initiative but has also escalated its F-16 bombing raids, causing growing devastation to Cambodia’s infrastructure with each passing day.
Therefore, I believe that Your Honorable President clearly understands that Thailand is the party intent on waging war and refusing cooperation, as well as the increase in offensive activities in Cambodia—actions that run contrary to Your Honorable’s goal of ending the war and saving lives. Currently, Cambodia has no choice but to respond solely in self-defense, to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while maintaining its commitment to a ceasefire at the earliest possible time and the full implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of Peace.
Meanwhile, we would like to respectfully request Your Honorable to review and consider the announcement of readiness to impose tariffs and to cancel other trade agreements with Cambodia and Thailand, if the ceasefire initiative cannot be achieved. Cambodia, through our leaders and people, has repeatedly affirmed its desire for peace and its support for a ceasefire; however, Thailand has refused to implement it. In this context, we respectfully urge Your Honorable President to consider, as Cambodia is the victim, a nation whose sovereignty has been invaded.