Pursat Provincial Administration rejects false claims of Thai occupation of Me Teuk Bridge

Pursat Provincial Administration rejects false claims of Thai occupation of Me Teuk Bridge

#National

The Pursat Provincial Administration has categorically rejected online claims alleging that Thai troops have occupied Me Teuk Bridge after it was damaged in a recent airstrike, describing the reports as entirely false, misleading, and aimed at incitement.

In an official statement issued on Monday, the provincial administration dismissed social media posts claiming that Thai forces had entered and established a military presence at the bridge, previously damaged by Thai airstrikes.

According to the statement, the false information was circulated by a Facebook account named Sarath Sun, which claimed that Thai soldiers had freely entered Cambodian territory and taken control of Me Teuk Bridge, citing alleged remarks by the provincial governor.

The Pursat Provincial Administration stated that no Thai troops have occupied or are stationed at Me Teuk Bridge, adding that the viral posts reused old photographs to mislead the public, exaggerate the situation, stir social tension, and create public confusion.

“The information shared is completely untrue and constitutes a deliberate attempt to distort facts and poison the social atmosphere,” the statement said.

The administration clarified that while Me Teuk Bridge—also known as Me Teuk Stream Bridge—was previously damaged during a violation by Thai forces involving an F-16 airstrike, the site is currently under repair by Cambodian public works authorities.

Temporary access routes have been arranged to facilitate daily travel for residents who have returned to their homes following the ceasefire, officials said.

The statement further noted that on January 15–16, Khoy Rida, Governor of Pursat Province, personally accompanied the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) to inspect four locations affected by Thai actions.

Two of those locations—O Pluk Damrei and Chrey Chumneas (National Road 56 checkpoint)—were identified as areas where Thai troops had laid barbed wire inside Cambodian borders and violated Cambodian territory.

The remaining two sites, including Me Teuk Bridge and another designated point, were confirmed to have suffered infrastructure and property damage, with no incursion or occupation of Cambodian territory.

On the same visit, the governor also gave on-site interviews to television media directly at Me Teuk Bridge, the statement added.

Following the ceasefire that took effect on December 27, approximately 90% of displaced residents from Thmar Da Commune, Veal Veng District, have returned to their original homes.

Residents near Me Teuk Bridge have resumed their normal daily lives, with some even engaging in small-scale production—such as making grass brooms for sale—to improve their household livelihoods, according to the provincial administration.

The Pursat Provincial Administration reiterated its complete rejection of the false social media claims and urged the public and media outlets to verify information carefully and rely on official sources.

“These fabricated reports are intended to incite, mislead, and undermine social stability,” the statement concluded, calling on all stakeholders to help maintain calm, accuracy, and public trust.

-Khmer Times-