In Dara, permanent representative of Cambodia to the UN in Geneva, has updated Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand armed conflict along the border.
In a November 19 meeting, Dara informed Türk that the border situation remains highly tense, marked by continuous Thai aggression, coercive acts against civilians, besieged villages, the destruction of civilian property, and the continued detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers, despite prior assurances they would be released.
He reiterated that Thai’s accusation regarding a November 10 landmine incident involved old mines leftover from past wars. He also expressed Cambodia’s long-standing commitment to a mine-free world and its pledge not to deploy new mines.
“This accusation is being used as a pretext to suspend peace agreements and continue the aggression,” said the November 21 press release.
Dara further detailed serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed by Thai armed forces, including the shooting of unarmed Cambodian civilians, resulting in one death and three injuries, as well as the gang rape of a Cambodian migrant worker by seven Thai Thahan Phran.
“He requested that the OHCHR investigate and document these incidents,” said the release.
Regarding the human rights situation, Dara also expressed concerns about the inaction of Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia. He stressed that the Special Rapporteur’s mandate covers not only domestic human rights developments but also rights violations related to the ongoing armed conflict.
Without specifying any action that may be taken, he stated that if the Special Rapporteur continues this inaction, Cambodia will take “appropriate measures”.
