UN Special Rapporteur Defends Statement on Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute; Thai Govt Remains Silent

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, has defended his statement regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute that occurred last week, asserting its basis on UN reports and human rights concerns. In a post on his Facebook page on the evening of August 6th, Andrews stated that he welcomes feedback on his statement, including comments from the Thai government. He further revealed that a draft of his statement concerning the border conflict, which also included points related to the displacement of Cambodian citizens, was sent to the Thai government two days before its release. However, he noted that there was no response from the Thai government. "Although I have not received a response to that communication, I remain open and willing to discuss the views of the Thai government," Andrews stated. This clarification comes after Thai officials publicly objected to his assertion that approximately 650,000 Cambodian citizens had fled due to the conflict, claiming that some of these individuals were already residing on Thai territory. Andrews acknowledged Thailand's perspective but reiterated, "The figures I cited are based on United Nations reports, and the reference to displaced people is based on human rights concerns that continue to warrant attention, irrespective of territorial disputes." He also indicated that he will submit his report on the human rights situation in Cambodia to the UN Human Rights Council next month and intends to contact the Thai government again during the report's preparation. He expressed his hope to discuss with Thai officials to hear and understand their perspectives before the report's release. Andrews emphasized the importance of a swift and peaceful resolution to the border conflict, expressing his hope that it will enable citizens to return to their homes and live in a stable and secure environment, thereby accessing the economic opportunities that cross-border trade can provide. Information source: Kampuchea Thmey Local