Anita Yun stands in front of a Cambodian flag. “I want peace for Cambodia.”
As I stand in a mirror, I tell myself that I am Cambodian. But throughout my life, I had numerous people look at me with bewilderment. So many races and ethnicities were thrown at me, and yet nobody was able to see who I was.
When I was younger, I was hurt by this, but nowadays, I am so proud and confident in my Cambodian culture. This is why I feel so connected and hurt about the recent hostilities going on between Thailand and Cambodia.
On July 24, Thailand launched strikes on the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple, resulting in 11 deaths and two dozen more injuries, according to nytimes.com. The attacks left fear and shock throughout the Cambodian people around the world, and especially the people here in Stockton.
The dispute has been going on for decades and has escalated recently. Their issues are centered on who gets ownership of the border between the two countries. Sources from PBS.org state that the Thai Navy had accused the Cambodian forces of attacking them first, but also report that Cambodian officials accused Thailand of the same thing. The contradiction and unclear answer on who started the fight is confusing, but one thing is clear, and it’s quite evident in their attack. Thailand is set on trying to take and claim temples and palaces near the border. Which is why they are attacking there instead of everywhere else.
Growing up Cambodian in America had its ups and downs for me. I grew up not knowing much of my culture, including aspects such as history, language, and music. I just felt so disconnected from it all, and I’ve finally grown to appreciate this side of myself.
Through a trip to Cambodia in 2024, I got to see family, historic places, and experience what it was like to finally view the eyes of the person I wanted to connect to so badly, myself. After these connections and growth, it hurt me to know these things were happening to my country and my people.
A temple in Battambang to the left. A picture of myself in front of a mirror in a hotel in Siem Reap to the right.
The people around me feel the same way as well. Family and people around me were hurting from these events. They were posting on social media to raise awareness about these issues, and people such as my parents thought this whole situation was unnecessary. Cambodianess on Facebook posted, “We share a border, let’s share a future.”
I also spoke to my Grandma about these issues; she was the person who would know best about things like these. After all, she survived the Khmer Rouge and went through many hardships in her life. She spoke to me about peace and how Cambodia had suffered so much already, and she’s glad that the ceasefire has been in place. កម្ពុជារងគ្រោះច្រើនណាស់ពីមុន ហើយឥឡូវនេះយើងកំពុងព្យាបាល»។. (Cambodia suffered so much before, and now we are healing.)
Yes, the two nations agreed to a ceasefire, and I’m glad it was placed as it caused the very thing that many other people wanted out of this situation, tranquility and calm. I prefer that to be placed over the country of Cambodia instead of worry and harm.
As I look at myself today, I am confident in myself, I am proud of my heritage, and I am Cambodian. The whole conflict had caused worry throughout the Cambodian people here in America, and specifically in Stockton. So if things were to escalate once more, I want our people and others to post things online or go out and raise awareness.
