BANGKOK, Thailand – In light of the current situation concerning the defense of Thailand’s sovereignty, resulting from attacks and threats to national security posed by Cambodia, Major General Winthai Suvaree, Army Spokesperson, issued the following statement to the public and media:
The Royal Thai Army expresses grave concern over Cambodia’s conduct, which clearly constitutes repeated violations of international rules and norms across multiple dimensions—military, humanitarian, and informational. These actions directly undermine security, endanger innocent civilians, and destabilize the region as a whole.
The Royal Thai Army calls upon the international community, including relevant organizations and mechanisms, to jointly review, investigate, and condemn Cambodia’s actions, which evidently breach international law and humanitarian principles in several key areas:
- Use of Ancient Monuments for Military Operations. Cambodia has used ancient monuments as military bases and operational areas. This violates principles protecting cultural property during conflict, stripping such monuments of their protected status under international law and risking damage to humanity’s cultural heritage.
- Use of Civilian Communities as Artillery Bases. Cambodian forces have used civilian communities as bases for launching attacks against Thailand. This deliberately exposes civilians to danger, violates international humanitarian law on civilian protection, and may be intended to manipulate images of events to support misleading claims before the global community.
- Illicit Use of Anti-Personnel Mines. Despite being a party to the Ottawa Convention, Cambodia continues to secretly use anti-personnel mines. This is a grave breach of international obligations. Furthermore, Cambodia has attempted to distort its image before international aid organizations to secure funding, undermining the spirit of the Convention and eroding global trust.
- Attacks on Civilian Targets Inside Thailand. Cambodia has attacked civilian targets deep within Thailand, causing chaos and severe hardship for innocent people. This forced the evacuation of more than 200,000 non-combatants, representing an unacceptable humanitarian impact.
- Dissemination of False Information and Baseless Accusations. Cambodia has spread false claims, accusing Thailand of being the aggressor, of initiating the use of force, and even of employing chemical weapons. These allegations are entirely without evidence or factual basis and are aimed at distorting the situation and damaging Thailand’s international image.
The Royal Thai Army emphasizes that Thailand is a peace-loving nation, with no intention of invading any country and no history of initiating violence. Thai military operations are conducted strictly within the framework of international law, humanitarian principles, and rules of engagement, exercising the legitimate right of self-defense against threats to sovereignty, civilian safety, and territorial integrity.
The Royal Thai Army urges the international community to closely monitor the situation, exercise judgment based on facts, and stand firmly on the principles of law, truth, and responsibility to preserve lasting peace, security, and regional stability. (NNT)
