In a somewhat bizarre escalation, last night, Thailand began employing psychological warfare tactics against the Cambodian villagers of Prey Chan​ and Chouk Chey, disputed areas which saw a Thai incursion with armoured bulldozers earlier in the day.
The soundtrack included disorienting sounds, including dogs howling and screams, throughout the night, interrupting people’s sleep in an attempt to stoke fear. The eerie soundtrack began at around 11pm.
This attempt at psy-ops, or psychological operations, marked a sideways escalation in the ongoing border dispute, raising concerns about the potential for further destabilisation in the region.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement on July 28, and met again on August 7 in Malaysia, but Thailand appears to have continued to press in on Cambodia’s borders, switching their target to former refugee camps in Banteay Meanchey.
Local villagers said the latest dirty tactic by the Thais will not chase them away, and they are as determined as ever to defend their homes.
Thai media outlets have reported that Thai ultra-nationalist Gun Jompalang may be behind this stunt. He previously failed in an attempt to spray protesting Cambodian villages with the contents of several sewerage trucks.
