‘My heart cries for all': Truce brings relief to local Cambodians and Thais
Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes, fueled largely over territory disputes that date back to colonial-era maps and treaties that defined boundaries.
'This is an important first step toward ensuring peace and security along the border, and to have it settled by the international community, to make it final,' said Vesna Nuon, a city councilor in Lowell, what is believed to be the second-largest Cambodian community in the country, behind only Long Beach, Calif. About 30,000 Cambodians live in Massachusetts, according to Census data.
Although the Thai population in Massachusetts is much smaller, it includes a notable presence in Greater Boston, with cultural centers including the Wat Nawamintararachutis Buddhist temple in Raynham. The country's beloved former king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was born in Cambridge.
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Nini Decha, a Thai citizen and meditation instructor from the Dhammakaya Meditation Center Boston, in Quincy, said she is sad and sorry for both sides. Decha said her babysitter is from Surin province in Thailand, close to the border, where many have had to flee their homes.
'The Thai government takes good care of her, and she's very safe even though she's scared,' Decha said.
Decha said that people related to both sides should reflect and think carefully about the conflict so that it will not recur.
'I'm so proud to be a Thai citizen,' Decha said.
Cholthanee Koerojna of Burlington, who is president of The King of Thailand Birthplace Foundation, which helps manage the Thai Scholars Fellowship Fund at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has lived in the US for almost 50 years. She also believes the conflict is unacceptable and blames the Thai government for failing to avert the crisis.
'The two countries are neighbors. I think they should be peaceful,' Koerojna said. 'We feel that it's time that Thailand should change its government; they should have someone who knows more about politics and can keep the country safe, keep it wealthy and healthy like in the past.'
Representatives from the Cambodian community said they extend their sympathies to the Thai people.
'We believe peace is not one-sided; it is shared, built through understanding, and strengthened by compassion,' said Sothea Chiemruom, in a statement on behalf of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell.
While the violence raged, it frayed nerves in Lowell, where connections remain fresh.
Lowell Councilor Paul Ratha Yem said his wife's family lives near the border province of Battambang, in northwestern Cambodia. Civilians, including children and elders, endured a tense weekend as many fled artillery fire and bombings.
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'Some of them are seasonal workers in Thailand and are stuck and cannot come home, and during this period of time some of them closer to the border had to be evacuated, so they moved inland,' Yem said.
Yem said he received a lot of positive reactions from the community after he posted the cease-fire news on social media.
'I'm so optimistic, I'm so happy,' Yem said of the truce. 'As someone who is Cambodian-American and went through the killing fields, this is good news.'
Material from news services was included in this report.
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