Opinion: Thailand’s Landmine Circus: When Lies Can’t Even Fill a Room

Opinion: Thailand’s Landmine Circus: When Lies Can’t Even Fill a Room

Khmer Times | On July 22, the Thai military staged what can only be described as a propaganda performance disguised as a security briefing. In a desperate attempt to paint Cambodia as the aggressor in the recent border landmine incident, Bangkok invited 47 foreign military attachés to listen to their claims. But only about 20 showed up—less than half.

That isn’t just a snub. It’s a global vote of no confidence.

When nearly 60% of invitees skip such a high-profile military briefing, it speaks volumes. The message is loud and clear: the world does not believe Thailand’s narrative. The international community is tired of being dragged into Thailand’s long-running pattern of border provocations, historical revisionism, and strategic manipulation.

Let’s break down what really happened.

A Fabricated Crisis
Thailand alleges that Cambodian forces recently laid new PMN-2 landmines along a disputed area near Mom Bei areas in Preah Vihear province, injuring three Thai soldiers. Cambodia, meanwhile, insists that Thai troops entered a mine-contaminated zone inside Cambodian territory, triggering legacy mines left over from decades of war—many planted by Thailand themselves during Cold War operations.

Cambodia also questions a glaring hole in the Thai argument: how could Thailand know the mines are “new”? What forensic proof was presented? Where is the third-party verification? Instead of producing concrete evidence, Thailand staged a theatrical performance backed by subjective narratives, military victimhood, and staged outrage.

An International Audience Walks Away
The Thai army’s plan was clear: whip up global sympathy, isolate Cambodia diplomatically, and justify further military posturing. But when only 20 out of 47 invited foreign military attachés bothered to attend the briefing, the strategy collapsed in real-time.

That’s not poor scheduling—it’s a rejection of a weak, illogical narrative. If Thailand truly had solid evidence, military attachés would have packed the room, eager to understand and offer support. But they didn’t. Why? Because the story doesn’t add up. Because Thailand has a long history of border provocations. Because the briefing was a smokescreen to mask Thailand’s own violations of the 2000 MoU on border cooperation and the spirit of ASEAN solidarity.

When liars speak, the world listens less. Thailand’s so-called briefing was meant to be a show of force and truth. Instead, a half-empty room exposed a half-baked lie.

The Real Provocation
Thailand’s recent actions—road construction in disputed zones, unilaterally defined maps, military presence in sensitive areas, and now the staging of this landmine accusation—are part of a calculated strategy to provoke Cambodia, test international reactions, and fabricate justification for future violations.

Let’s not forget: it was Thailand that walked away from the Joint Boundary Commission. It is Thailand that refuses to recognize internationally agreed border maps. And now it is Thailand trying to rewrite the truth about who planted landmines in Region.

This isn’t the first time Thailand has twisted facts to suit its politics. From map manipulation to rewriting history, Bangkok has long used distortion as a weapon. But the world is wiser now—and their credibility is in ruins.

Dangerous Lies, Real Risks
Lies about landmines are not harmless. They risk triggering real violence. By inventing provocations and manipulating facts, Thailand is playing a dangerous game—one that could destabilize the border and put innocent lives at risk. False flags have no place in ASEAN.

In diplomacy, silence speaks louder than applause. The absence of over half the invited military attachés is not just a failure of Thai foreign policy—it is a diplomatic disaster. It shows that Thailand’s attempt to frame Cambodia has backfired.

The truth is out there, and the world is watching. No amount of propaganda, no matter how well-rehearsed, can change the facts.

Cambodia will continue to defend its sovereignty, uphold international norms, and expose these dirty tactics for what they are: acts of desperation from a neighbor addicted to provocation.

Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views expressed are his own.