BANGKOK, Thailand – A Cambodian international student in Thailand has shared his heartfelt concerns as political tensions rise along the Thai-Cambodian border. In a post shared on July 24 by the Facebook page “Warin Chamrap Ban Hao, Ubon Ratchathani,” the student from Ubon Ratchathani University expressed his emotional attachment to Thailand, which he considers his “second home,” but now fears being judged or hated simply for his nationality.
“Hello everyone,
I’m an international student from Cambodia. I’ve been living at Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand for nearly a year now. Honestly, everything here is amazing. The kindness of Thai people—their smiles, generosity, and warmth—is something I’ve felt every single day. Wherever I go, people have encouraged me as a Cambodian, appreciated my efforts to speak Thai, and welcomed me into their culture.
I’ve learned so much about Thai traditions, and I deeply love and respect them. Thailand is the country I chose. It gave me opportunity, made me feel valued, and welcomed me with open arms. My professors and everyone around me have treated me with sincerity and genuine kindness.
But since the war situation started, a heavy feeling has taken root in my heart. I’ve begun to feel a sadness I’ve never known. Every day I worry—about the future, about how people look at me. And now, I find myself asking a painful question:
‘Will people hate me… just because I’m Cambodian?’
It hurts to even think this way. From the first day I arrived, I never saw Thailand as just a foreign country—I saw it as my second home. I never had bad intentions, only the desire to live, learn, and respect everything this country is.
Now, as the situation grows tenser, I feel like I’m the only Cambodian here. Where I once felt safe and warm, I now feel fear and uncertainty. Still, I believe in peace. I believe in human kindness. And I truly hope both governments will choose dialogue—not war.
Because all we want—especially students like me—is just to live, to learn, and to feel like we belong in this world.
For safety reasons, I must hide my identity.
#PrayForThailand”
