Thailand Urges Cambodia to Cease One-Sided Information, Emphasizes Territorial Integrity and Citizen Protection

Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sonjaidee, Director of the Thailand-Cambodia Information Center (JIC), has strongly refuted claims by Cambodian government agencies designating July 24th as "The Day of Thailand's Aggression," and presenting a sequence of events that accuse Thailand of initiating the use of force. He stated that such information is one-sided, neglecting facts, tangible evidence, and the context of events along the border. ACM Prapas affirmed that the Thai military's actions throughout the period of tension were undertaken to protect Thailand's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its people and personnel, adhering to the principles of necessity, proportionality, rules of engagement, international humanitarian law, and the right to self-defense under international law. He emphasized that Thailand's retaliatory use of force occurred after Thai civilian areas and communities were attacked with weapons, and newly laid mines were discovered in the border area, resulting in severe injuries to Thai soldiers. These facts, he argued, should be transparently investigated and not omitted from information presentations that could lead to the misconception that Thailand is the aggressor. The JIC Director stated that declaring a "Day of Aggression" based on one-sided information does not foster peace but may instead reinforce hatred, create distorted historical memories, and negatively impact the restoration of trust between the peoples of both nations. He further indicated that Thailand does not wish for the conflict to be used as a tool for domestic politics or to incite nationalism to divert attention from economic and social problems, as the direct impact falls upon border residents, laborers, entrepreneurs, and families of both countries. ACM Prapas added that the recent tensions have had widespread repercussions, including loss of life, displacement of people, stagnation of border trade, restricted labor movement, and reduced economic activities. He noted that while information warfare and accusations might yield short-term political gains, they cannot substitute for economic security and the quality of life for the people. However, Thailand remains committed to peace, restraint, and avoiding unnecessary escalation. This restraint, he clarified, does not equate to acceptance of factual distortions or the neglect of protecting sovereignty and citizen safety. The JIC also called on Cambodia to cease disseminating unsubstantiated accusations, to disclose information and evidence to neutral verification mechanisms, to adhere to ceasefire agreements, avoid military movements that could be perceived as provocative, refrain from using religious sites, ancient monuments, and civilian communities as military bases or cover, and to cooperate in demining, protecting civilians, restoring border trade, and avoiding the instillation of hatred towards neighboring country's citizens. ACM Prapas reiterated Thailand's readiness to support peaceful conflict resolution through bilateral mechanisms and those mutually accepted by both parties. He stressed that negotiations can only be productive based on facts, sincerity, and respect for mutual agreements. He concluded by stating that Thailand does not desire conflict but will not permit the use of distorted information to undermine the legitimacy of protecting its sovereignty and its people.