PeaceWorkForum

   October 2025 Fighting and  Its Humanitarian Toll Overview The conflict in Indonesia's Papuan provinces intensified in mid-October 2025, following clashes between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Soanggama village, Intan Jaya. Official reports indicate that 14 separatist fighters were killed and the village was "liberated," while insurgent representatives claim that several of the deceased were civilians. Independent verification remains challenging due to access restrictions and the area's remoteness (Reuters, 2025; Associated Press [AP], 2025). Humanitarian Risks and Civilian Harm In May 2025, Human Rights Watch reported that renewed military operations in Papua's Central Highlands, including the deployment of drone and helicopter-launched munitions, have resulted in civilian casualties and the displacement of thousands. Local pastors and activists have described the repeated use of explo...

🏰 Historical Context Centuries ago, during the decline of the Khmer Empire, emerging Thai polities such as Sukhothai and later Ayutthaya expanded their influence. Historical accounts suggest that these expansions often succeeded not merely through military might, but through strategic alliances with local populations—winning support from Khmer communities who were dissatisfied with their rulers. This method reflected a political intelligence: rather than crushing the people, the Thai leaders undermined the empire’s centralized power by isolating the ruling class from the governed. Present Dynamics “The current Thai is attacking the people instead of focusing on the rulers.” This expresses a shift from strategic engagement to punitive suppression. It implies that instead of distinguishing between rulers (as decision-makers) and citizens (as victims or bystanders), modern power structures or military actions target the vulnerable population—villagers, migrants, or border com...

A Reflection on Courage Beyond Convention Published by PeaceWorks Forum, October 2025 In a world often defined by power, secrecy, and political maneuvering, peace rarely emerges from the corridors of authority alone. Sometimes, it begins with one person—someone willing to cross boundaries, challenge expectations, and take action where others remain silent. This is the story of a man who dared to make peace—not through titles or treaties, but through courage, conviction, and the refusal to accept endless conflict as destiny. When Borders Burn and Hope Falters Few conflicts have tested the resolve of Southeast Asia like the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, especially around the sacred Preah Vihear Temple. Perched high on the Dângrêk Mountains, this centuries-old Hindu sanctuary has been a symbol of pride, pain, and identity for both nations—its beauty shadowed by bullets and barbed wire. Over the decades, the site has witnessed military skirmishes, nationalist fervor, and intern...

  Introduction Perception is the silent sculptor of our reality. It shapes how we interpret the world, how we communicate, and how we relate to others. Yet, because perception is inherently subjective, it can also be a source of misunderstanding, conflict, and failure in communication. This article explores how perception forms, how misperceptions arise, and what can be done to reduce their impact. What Is Perception? Perception is how individuals organize and interpret sensory information to make sense of their environment (American Psychological Association [APA], 2023). It’s not a passive process of receiving data—it’s an active, interpretive act. As the Social Science LibreTexts project points out, “Each of us comes to a conversation with different ways of talking and doing things, and these differences influence how we perceive and interpret messages” (Social Sci LibreTexts, 2021). Perception usually involves three stages: - Selection – choosing which stimuli to focus...