A prominent Cambodian analyst has described the remarks made by Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow during a recent interview with French broadcaster France 24 as “a series of lies aimed at misleading international public opinion”. Cambodia merely seeks to defend the truth, he insisted.
During the interview, Sihasak was heavily pressed by the interviewer regarding reports that the Thai military is occupying Cambodian territory, as Prime Minister Hun Manet recently shared with the international media.
In response, Sihasak noted that the ceasefire requires troops from both sides to remain in their current positions. However, he failed to mention that Thai soldiers have actively engaged in actions such as bulldozing Cambodian villagers’ homes, digging trenches and installing shipping containers and razor wire barricades.
When the journalist asked about the placement of barricades and containers deep inside Cambodian territory — well beyond the border line claimed by Thailand — Sihasak deflected, claiming that Cambodia was trying to internationalise the issue and alleging that the areas in question are Thai territory that Cambodia encroached upon decades ago, during the wartime era.
Sihasak asserted that Thailand is working to prevent the situation from escalating, describing Thailand as “a country that desires peace with its neighbours”.
Cambodia has repeatedly shed light on Thailand’s illegal activities following the ceasefire, such as digging ditches in Chouk Chey village, erecting barbed wire fences and placing shipping containers in multiple locations on Cambodian soil, with the intention of creating a fait accompli on the ground.
Currently, tens of thousands of Cambodian citizens remain displaced and unable to return to their homes because Thai forces have cordoned off the homes or blocked access with containers, particularly in areas like Boeung Trakuon, Chouk Chey village, Prey Chan and Thma Da.
Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post that Sihasak’s deceitful behaviour in the interview ranged from failing to mention that Thai soldiers are violating the ceasefire to attempting to create a new reality on the ground in order to occupy Cambodian territory.
He stated that Cambodian assertions, including Prime Minister Hun Manet’s recent interviews with major international media outlets, are made solely to defend the truth.
“Following the ceasefire, Thailand has advanced deep into Cambodian territory, constructing bunkers, roads and permanent structures, and is actively altering the reality on the ground,” he said.
“The Thai foreign minister only presented a one-sided view; he did not reveal the reality on the ground. Therefore, his behaviour is best described as international deception,” he added.
He suggested that Cambodia is not attempting to “internationalise” the issue, as Sihasak claimed, but simply exposing the truth to the world. Cambodia must protest any actions where Thailand violates Cambodian sovereignty.
“I believe the international community will not buy into Thailand’s lies, as there is currently a diplomatic delegation visiting the border area,” he stated.
“The ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) should also release a report. Cambodia doesn’t need anyone to take its side; merely defending the truth is enough,” he added.
