Cambodia lights candles for peace as PM Hun Manet urges world to end war

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (Dec. 24, 2025) — Cambodia staged a powerful cultural appeal for peace Tuesday as Prime Minister Hun Manet led a nationwide candlelight meditation, urging the international community to act immediately to end war and restore stability.

Hundreds of citizens, foreign residents and visitors gathered in front of the newly completed “Art for Peace” mural in Siem Reap, a 30-meter-long artwork painted by 50 Cambodian artists over five days. The mural, unveiled on Dec. 23, became the backdrop for meditation and candle-lighting, transforming the city into a symbolic stage for Cambodia’s plea to the world.

“This is a collective voice of the Cambodian people to the world,” Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet wrote on his official Facebook page, describing the vigil as a message of sorrow and hope. He said the gathering reflected Cambodia’s determination to call for an immediate end to war and the restoration of peace.

Authorities said the ceremony came amid 18 days of Thai military attacks on Cambodian territory. The Ministry of Interior reported 21 civilians killed, including an infant, and 83 injured, with more than 600,000 displaced. Civilian infrastructure — homes, schools, hospitals, markets, pagodas, roads, bridges and ancient temples — has suffered damage.

For participants, the vigil was both mourning and resistance. Farmers, students, monks and artists joined hands with foreign residents to light candles, expressing solidarity against violence and calling for urgent global action.

The candlelight meditation and mural have emerged as acts of cultural diplomacy, amplifying Cambodia’s appeal for international intervention. Officials said the initiative reflects the country’s resolve to defend its sovereignty through peaceful means while reminding the world of the human and cultural cost of war.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet thanked foreign visitors who joined the vigil and reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to nonviolence and dialogue.

“Meditation and Candlelight for Peace in Cambodia. Cambodians, along with foreign residents and visitors working and staying in Siem Reap, gathered to light candles to express their sorrow over the tragedy of war and to call for lasting peace for the Cambodian people. The gathering aimed to convey a message to the international community as a collective desire for an immediate end to the war and the restoration of peace,” the Prime Minister wrote.