Thailand Rejects UN Envoy's Report on Cambodia Border Dispute, Insists on Own Terms for Talks

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has reignited international attention, with the Thai government issuing a strong rebuttal to a special report by Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia. Thai officials have declared that the report is one-sided and lacks neutrality. They emphasized that any negotiations with Cambodia regarding the dispute must be conducted strictly on Thailand's terms, and that Thailand will not be coerced by any external party. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, directly addressed Andrews' claim of 650,000 displaced Cambodians due to border clashes, stating unequivocally, "Thailand does not accept this view because the report was not prepared after listening to actual information from the Thai side." He also signaled to Cambodia regarding any potential appeals to the United Nations, asserting Thailand's firm principles and unwavering stance, and vowing not to allow any party to use the term 'compulsion' against Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeaw, a former President of the UN Human Rights Council, clarified that Andrews' report is not an official UN document but a personal report that still requires discussion in the General Assembly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a letter of protest to the OHCHR and questioning Andrews' impartiality, particularly his oversight of the suffering of over 400,000 Thai citizens displaced by Cambodian attacks. Thailand also denied allegations of forcibly repatriating Cambodian workers and urged the UN to seriously investigate the issues of scammers and call center gangs operating in Cambodia. Regarding Cambodia's continued insistence on using a 1:200,000 scale map, Thailand reiterated its longstanding position that border delineation must reference supporting documents, including the watershed principle and Thailand's own 1:50,000 scale map. The Thai government's firm stance signals clearly to both the global community and Cambodia that Thailand is prepared to defend its sovereignty and national interests based on correct and just principles.