Cambodia hits back at Thai minister’s UN remarks over border dispute
An image of the Thai foreign minister addressing the UN General Assembly, surrounded by small photos which show some of the events which began with the May 28 killing of a Cambodian soldier in the Mum Bei area. Supplied
Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior has issued a sharp rebuttal to the address delivered by Thailand’s newly appointed foreign minister at the UN General Assembly, accusing Bangkok of twisting facts about the ongoing border conflict.
In a September 29 statement, the ministry dismissed the Thai minister’s claims that “Thai soldiers who lost their legs to landmines, children whose schools were destroyed by artillery, and innocent civilians who were attacked by Cambodian rockets” were the true victims of the clashes.
The Cambodian side countered by posing a series of pointed questions aimed at exposing what it described as Thailand’s responsibility for escalating tensions along the frontier.
“Who initiated the May 28 shooting that killed a Cambodian soldier in the Mom Bei area?” the statement asked.
“Who unilaterally closed the border? Who deployed razor wire and fenced off Ta Moan Thom Temple? Who launched the attack on Cambodian troops, leading to the five-night, five-day battle?” it continued.
The ministry further questioned Thailand’s commitment to international agreements and ceasefire terms, citing alleged violations of the Franco-Siamese Treaties and the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 2000).
“Who violated the ceasefire by arresting Cambodian troops the morning after the ceasefire agreement, expanding the conflict zone and moving forces until they stepped on landmines left over from the past?” the statement added.
The ministry also accused Bangkok of rejecting third-party mediation, undermining international norms, and “flagrantly” attempting to treat razor wire as an official border line.
In its strongest diplomatic language, Cambodia challenged Thailand’s reluctance to accept international arbitration.
“If Thailand is truly right, if Thailand is truly the victim, why is Thailand afraid of intervention from the international community? Why should Thailand fear the International Court of Justice?” the statement read.
The ministry suggested that the causes of the dispute had become clear not only to Cambodians and neighbouring countries but also to the wider world.
“The whole world knows Thailand’s character and is thoroughly fed up with it,” it said.
-The Phnom Penh Post-
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