In a recent turn of international tensions, Major General Withai Laithomya, spokesperson for the Thai Armed Forces, took a firm stance against accusations made on July 28 by Lieutenant General Mali Socheata, who represents Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence. According to Socheata, Thailand had allegedly breached Cambodian sovereignty and instigated unprovoked attacks, a claim Withai swiftly and categorically dismissed as “entirely baseless and false.” Withai suggested that Phnom Penh’s declarations were little more than a smokescreen to divert international scrutiny from Cambodia’s own provocative behaviors, which he asserted included continuous violations of Thai sovereignty.
The heart of Thailand’s response was grounded in its right to self-defence. As Withai articulated, “The Thai military has exercised restraint throughout the crisis. However, when faced with aggression, we are fully justified in defending our people and national sovereignty.” He characterized Cambodia’s allegations as lacking substance, merely serving to stoke confusion and escalate tensions. He condemned what he termed as nothing short of a “shameless distortion of facts,” contending that these maneuvers by the Cambodian government demonstrated a seeming insincerity in pursuing peace through diplomatic channels.
Withai presented a sequence of hostile actions from Cambodia to counter their narrative, painting a picture of escalating tensions: the ominous starter gun was reportedly fired at 2 a.m. on July 27, with Cambodian forces allegedly using artillery against the Chong Chom area, unquestionably part of Thai sovereign land. By the break of dawn, heavy shelling rained down on Thai military outposts near the revered Ta Kwai and Ta Muen Thom temples. As the sun climbed higher, further shells purportedly landed in civilian zones of Surin province’s Chong Chom district, leaving destruction in their wake.
The barrage didn’t end there. With the clock ticking towards 5 p.m., Cambodia’s forces were said to have launched BM-21 rockets into Si Sa Ket province’s Kantharalak district, a full 20 kilometers from the border—a provocative act that claimed one civilian life and left another grievously wounded. “These attacks targeted civilians and must be categorized as barbaric and inhumane,” Withai remarked passionately.
In asserting Thailand’s right under international law, Withai leaned on Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which enshrines the right to self-defence for all states. He maintained that Thailand’s military response was both necessary and proportionate. “Thailand does not wish to escalate the conflict, but we will not tolerate violations of our sovereignty or threats to our national security,” he stated emphatically.
Thailand reiterated its dedication to settling the discord peaceably, adhering strictly to international legal norms. “We respect the sovereignty of all nations,” the official statement read. It also implored Cambodia to cease its “disinformation campaigns, provocations, and unlawful acts of aggression,” urging the international community to take heed of the facts and press Cambodia to abide by international law, so that peace and stability might swiftly return to the region.
Meanwhile, on July 27, Royal Thai Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree responded robustly to Socheata’s assertions. Denying that Thailand fabricated justifications to invade Cambodia, Winthai insisted that Thailand remains a peace-loving nation with no intention toward hostile incursions. “Whenever disputes arise, Thailand has consistently pursued peaceful solutions, exercising patience and restraint,” he affirmed. Nevertheless, he pointed out that when Cambodia resorted to force, Thailand was left with no choice but to defend its rights.
Winthai also leveled serious accusations at Cambodia, alleging flagrant violations of humanitarian law. According to him, Cambodian forces had repeatedly launched artillery and rockets into non-military civilian areas, implicating schools and hospitals among their targets. “They have indiscriminately fired long-range rockets and artillery into civilian areas,” Winthai remarked with concern.
He further accused Cambodia of stationing their artillery within civilian communities as a deterrent against Thai retaliation, suggesting that civilians were effectively being used as “human shields,” a clear contravention of the Geneva Conventions. With a somber tone, Winthai expressed dismay at reports suggesting Cambodia’s use of women and children in deceptive propaganda campaigns designed to manipulate the international narrative.
Adding to the turmoil, artillery shells were reported to have tragically landed in Laos, as many as 10 of them. Winthai candidly stated, “Only Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in active exchanges of fire in this area. The Thai military has confirmed that no shells were fired in that direction from our side,” indicating that the errant munitions likely originated from Cambodian forces given their known use of inaccurate long-range weaponry.
In response to these complex and volatile developments, the Thai Army stood resolute in its pledge to protect national sovereignty, employing military force only when necessary and in strict compliance with international law. “We will continue to act responsibly and proportionately to defend our people and territory,” Winthai assured, underscoring Thailand’s enduring commitment to peace through strength.
This situation is only going to escalate unless someone steps in to mediate. The international community needs to get involved before things get worse.
Yeah, but that’s just asking for more political chaos. Let them handle it themselves!
I understand your point, but if they could handle it on their own, they would have by now. Sometimes intervention is necessary.
These countries have a long history of border disputes. Nothing new here, just a continuation of what’s been going on for decades.
That’s true, but just because it’s an old problem doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a new solution. Maybe more regional cooperative agreements?
Regional agreements sound great in theory. The politics are so complex that what’s ideal might not be feasible.
With both sides armed and tensions this high, it’s only a matter of time before an incident has catastrophic consequences. Are we just going to wait until innocent lives are lost before taking real action?
Agreed, but preventive action is tricky. Who steps in without appearing biased? It’s a diplomatic tightrope.
True, yet, it’s better to navigate a tightrope than walk on the edge of a cliff! There must be a mechanism for this in international law.
Does anyone actually believe Thailand’s story? Every country claims self-defense, especially when international law is involved.
So cynical! Not all countries lie about aggression. Why would they make themselves look bad in the international community?
Not cynical, just realistic. Nations have interests. They’ll twist the narrative to suit them.
True, but the same could be said about Cambodia. Both sides need to be scrutinized closely.
What about the humanitarian aspect? If reports of civilian areas being targeted are true, this violates so many conventions. Where’s the outrage from global organizations?!
Exactly! Where are the UN and other bodies that claim to uphold human rights? They need to act swiftly.
Unfortunately, bureaucracy slows things down. By the time action is taken, more damage will have been done.
This is just politics as usual. Finger-pointing while hiding the truth. Show us some unbiased, independent reporting!
Two countries posturing over military might is never the answer. Diplomacy should be the first resort, not shelling villages.
Has anyone thought about the economic implications of this conflict? Border tensions could impact trade routes and local economies significantly.
So much for ASEAN unity! These regional organizations just love ignoring issues until it’s too late.
The humanitarian claims raised here are alarming. Many families are caught in the crossfire and yet, all focus is on military responses.
Thailand has every right to defend its land! Cambodia’s provocation won’t go unanswered.
And Cambodia has every right to defend itself from Thailand’s aggression. It’s not one-sided, you know!
Both sides have histories of misunderstanding. But blaming Thailand solely is unfair.
A ceasefire and open communication channel are urgently needed. What’s the point of more violence?
Can we talk about the environmental damage these artillery duels are causing? Ecosystems don’t respect borders!