On the morning of September 20, 2025, ទៀ វិចិត្រ, director-general of ជីធីវីសុី គ្រុប, responded to claims about Peace Petroleum Cambodia, saying it did not import fuel from Thailand and was importing from a US company.
In a Facebook post that morning, he presented his explanation as exchanges between an “operator”, “critics” and “overlooked facts”:
— Operator: After serious insults from the Thai side, we worked through legal procedures and delays to change the name to PEACE.
— Critics: Only the name changed; everything else is the same, especially petrol still from Thailand, right? Others ask where the petrol comes from and whether we are trying to mislead Cambodians.
— Overlooked facts: Has the Government not already prohibited petrol imports from Thailand?
— Operator: We worked to choose a good, trustworthy import partner; the petrol comes from the United States. Meetings and clear planning have taken place.
— Critics: Meetings alone do not answer where the petrol comes from. Plans alone do not answer that question either.
— Overlooked facts: All 35 PEACE branches announced an immediate suspension of customer supply when stocks ran out.
— Operator: After the suspension was announced, the first petrol shipment from the United States arrived and was distributed to individual PEACE stations, which each made announcements.
— Critics: Only the signs changed; petrol still comes from Thailand. We suspect it is still Thai fuel, and so on.
— Overlooked facts: Did you not read the announcements, or can you not read?
ទៀ វិចិត្រ continued: “What happened to Cambodians caring for and encouraging one another? If we do nothing, we are criticised for doing nothing; when we make efforts, we face suspicions and accusations of misleading people. Are such critics not undermining morale and siding with the Thai side?”
He added: “Soon, when everything is explained, critics will say they understand and no longer doubt. Starting a domestic business takes at least one or two months moving between institutions; how much longer would international business take?”
Finally, he asked Cambodians to be open-minded and encourage the new Cambodian PEACE company, allowing its team three months to explain everything.
Written by ចិន្តា ទីទិ
