The Ministry of Information has called on media organisations and the public to play their part in the effective implementation of the Cambodia-Thailand peace agreement by adhering to ethical and professional codes and refraining from sharing false information that could create tension at the border.
The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand signed a joint statement, known as The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, in Malaysia, on October 26. The signing was witnessed by US President Donald Trump and ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim. The agreement includes a provision to avoid spreading information that could escalate tensions.
Ministry spokesperson Tep Asnarith noted today, October 31, that information minister Neth Pheaktra has appealed to all media outlets, both state-run and private, as well as social media users, to respect this agreement and be cautious when reporting or sharing information about border issues.
“All social media users must adhere to a code of ethics when sharing and disseminating information. They must not create or share false and unverified information that affects the relationship between the two countries. This will contribute to creating a favourable environment that ensures the situation improves, in order to successfully uphold the spirit of this peace agreement,” he said.
However, he warned that since the signing of the agreement, the ministry’s anti-fake news committee has identified approximately 50 cases of false information being shared. This includes false reports regarding the release of captured Cambodian soldiers and the situation in Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages in Banteay Meanchey province, a hotspot for the latest territorial claims.
He noted that misinformation is being shared by users both inside and outside the country, in many cases serving political agendas or their own quests for popularity.
Asnarith urged the public to be cautious about believing or sharing unverified information, especially when it does not come from official sources.
