Thailand Calls on 70 Million Citizens to Become 'Country Communicators' in Information Warfare Era

Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sonjaiydee, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force and Director of the Thai-Cambodian Information Situation Center (JIC), addressed the information warfare situation between Thailand and Cambodia. He stressed that modern conflicts are not confined to military dimensions but also encompass communication with the global community. Thailand affirms its commitment to using facts and verifiable evidence as crucial tools for building understanding, urging all parties to adhere to fairness and listen to information from all sides. When asked about the intense information warfare between Thailand and Cambodia, and the perception that Thailand communicates slower than others, ACM Prapas stated, "What is most dangerous today is not bullets, but distorted information. One-sided information can create global misunderstanding within minutes, but proving facts can take days. The JIC's role is not to compete to speak louder than anyone else, but to ensure that facts are heard loudly enough." Responding to the notion that some parties consistently portray Thailand as being at fault, ACM Prapas remarked, "Thailand does not ask anyone to take our side, but only asks that all parties apply the same standards to all countries. If anyone is to be accused, facts should be verified from all sides, not just by listening to one-sided information. Fairness begins with listening comprehensively." Regarding how Thailand will counter distorted information, ACM Prapas said, "We will not fight fake news with fake news. We will use facts, documents, evidence, photographs, and verifiable data, because the truth may walk slower, but once it arrives, it will stand longer than propaganda." When asked what he would like to convey to the Thai people, ACM Prapas stated, "Today, everyone is a communicator for the country. Before sharing, before believing, before forwarding, please check the information once. One factual share can create more understanding than a hundred emotional posts. Thailand is strong not because we speak the loudest, but because we stand on facts." To the international community, ACM Prapas conveyed, "I want to say that Thailand is ready for all parties to verify the facts. We are ready to work through bilateral mechanisms and international law. We are committed to peace, but lasting peace must be based on truth, not on selectively presented information. 'Truth does not need to be shouted, but must not stop being told.'" ACM Prapas further added that it is time for "every Thai person" to become a communicator for the nation. He emphasized that in this era, wars are decided not only on the battlefield but also on the information battlefield. "Those who tell the story first often become the ones the world believes first. Thailand can no longer afford to let others tell our story for us. Today, every Thai person can be a 'people's diplomacy' force. You don't need to be a diplomat, you don't need to be a politician." He concluded by highlighting the potential of "people's communication power." "The world will listen to Thailand more when Thailand has people helping to communicate the truth. We may not have many world-class lobbying firms, but we have over 70 million Thai people. If everyone helps with one post, one explanation, one share, this is the 'people's communication power' that no one can buy. Do not let one-sided news become the world's truth, because Thailand has the right to tell its story with facts, evidence, and reasons. Start today. Share one truth, translate one piece of information, explain the facts to one more person. Together, that is Thailand's power. One person, one voice, one fact, for Thailand." Source: INN News