The Pride of a Thief: How the Thai Army Staged Patriotism to Justify Invasion
The Pride of a Thief: How the Thai Army Staged Patriotism to Justify Invasion
-Opinon-
A viral video from Cambodia’ Prey Chan village shows Thai soldiers marching across farmland while singing “Siam Manusti.” To many Thais, it may appear to be a harmless show of patriotism — but in truth, it is a carefully staged performance by the Royal Thai Army to deceive the public and disguise a far more shameful act. What they call “patriotism” is nothing more than propaganda designed to glorify aggression and justify Thailand’s violation of Cambodian territory.
The video features more than 20 soldiers marching in formation across villagers’ farmland, declaring that “wherever Thai soldiers step is Thai territory.” These words, proudly echoed by Colonel Chainarong Kasee of the Burapha Force, expose the real intention behind the act: to plant in the minds of Thai citizens that disputed or foreign land automatically becomes Thai the moment a soldier’s boot touches it. This is not a song of pride — it is a performance of deception.
This was no spontaneous outburst of national spirit; it was a choreographed display crafted for the camera and amplified across Thai media and social platforms. The goal is simple: to manufacture consent and inflame nationalism among the Thai public, making them believe their army is defending the homeland when, in fact, it is trespassing on Cambodian soil. The Thai Army is weaponizing patriotic imagery and music to brainwash citizens into supporting a policy of quiet invasion.
This propaganda is dangerous precisely because it blinds the Thai public to the truth. While soldiers sing about “Siam’s glory,” they trample the livelihoods of Cambodian villagers who have tilled that land for generations. While Thai commanders boast of “clearing minefields,” they fail to mention that this land lies along a disputed border where the International Court of Justice and ASEAN observers have repeatedly called for restraint and respect for boundaries.
This performance reveals the Thai military’s true weakness — not strength. A confident army does not need to stage patriotism for the cameras. Only an insecure force, desperate to distract from domestic failures and political instability, would resort to such theatrics. By fabricating displays of valor, the Thai military hopes to rally nationalist sentiment and divert attention from Thailand’s deepening political fractures and public discontent.
The Thai Army has transformed itself from a defense institution into a propaganda machine — singing songs, waving flags, and posting videos to prove its loyalty while violating international norms. But no amount of singing can turn trespass into patriotism, and no anthem can wash away the shame of an invader.
Thailand’s leaders may think they can fool their people with these staged spectacles, but the world sees clearly what is happening. This is not national pride — it is the pride of a thief claiming ownership of stolen goods. Cambodia has chosen peace, restraint, and respect for law; Thailand has chosen showmanship and deception.
True patriotism does not come from stealing land or fabricating victory. It comes from respecting neighbors, upholding international law, and honoring truth over illusion. The Thai Army may sing proudly for the cameras, but history will remember what really happened: that Thailand’s soldiers marched not for honor, but for propaganda — and that their anthem of pride was sung on soil that was never theirs to begin with.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views expressed are his own.
-The Phnom Penh Post-
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