The ceasefire was supposed to bring calm. Instead, it became the stage for something darker. Eighteen Cambodian soldiers remain in captivity, unreleased, while each day new humiliations unfold. Stones hurled by slingshots, poison powder released by drones and fighter jets, and the endless shifting of barbed wire and old tires across Cambodian soil — all of this reveals not peace, but ambition.
The question that now burns in every Cambodian heart is clear: What does Thailand truly want from this war?
Beyond Weapons: The Show of Landmines
Recently, Thailand began parading a new spectacle before the world — the landmine issue. With carefully staged photos and selective narratives, Thai officials claim to be concerned about landmine dangers along the border. They call for action, for sympathy, for international attention.
But this is not a humanitarian mission — it is a performance.
Thailand waves the landmine banner to pose as the victim, while in reality it is the aggressor.
They present themselves as protectors of civilians, while their soldiers spread poison powder from the skies and continue to hold Cambodian captives.
They stage “concern” for safety, yet their actions reveal calculated deception.
The landmine issue is a smokescreen — a distraction meant to hide the truth of invasion, humiliation and identity erasure. It is not about protection. It is performative diplomacy, using humanitarian language to mask aggression and buy sympathy from the world.
The Hidden Ambitions Behind the Curtain
Thailand’s ambitions are no longer hidden. They are written in every step they take along the border.
- Territorial Expansion: Each shift of barbed wire, each creeping step onto Cambodian soil is a silent attempt to redraw the map.
- Psychological Warfare: Slingshots, poison and daily threats are not random acts — they are tools to weaken morale and test Cambodian endurance.
- Erasure of Identity: The renaming of Khmer temples, the forced rebranding of Khmer people as “Thai”, and the invention of the false word Khom remain central to their long-term strategy of cultural theft.
- Political Leverage: Threats to sue Cambodian leaders at the ICC (an institution Thailand itself is not even part of) are nothing but intimidation tactics to undermine Cambodian sovereignty.
- Global Deception: By showcasing landmines as a “humanitarian issue”, Thailand attempts to appear noble to outsiders while continuing daily violations.
- Internal Power Struggles: Thaksin, the military elite, and the royal palace are locked in a game of survival, each exploiting the conflict with Cambodia for personal gain.
The true victims of this power game are not only Cambodians, but also innocent Thai civilians, whose name is being dragged into dishonour by leaders chasing ambition.
The War of Identity Erasure
At the heart of this conflict is not only land, but memory. Thailand’s aggression has always carried with it the shadow of identity erasure.
- Khmer temples inside Thai territory are renamed “Thai heritage sites”.
- Khmer-speaking populations in Surin, Buriram, and Sisaket are forced to abandon their mother tongue.
- Cambodian culture is repackaged as “Thai culture” for global consumption.
This war is not fought only with bullets. It is fought with words, with renaming with cultural theft. To erase a people’s history is to attack their soul. And in this war of identity, Thailand shows its most dangerous ambition: to claim not only Cambodian land, but Cambodian memory itself.
A Cambodian Response: Boycott as Resistance
In the face of these ambitions, Cambodia must respond with clarity and dignity. Our defence is not only military — it is economic.
We must boycott all Thai products and investments, whether local or international, except those produced inside Cambodia. Products and investments built on Cambodian soil are part of our economy, contributing to our GDP growth, and belong to us.
This is not a violation of ASEAN’s free trade principles. Cambodia respects ASEAN agreements. But consumer choice — the refusal of Cambodians to fund the aggressor — is not illegal. It is a peaceful, lawful and powerful form of resistance.
Every product we refuse to buy is a message.
We will not pay for poison in our skies.
We will not finance humiliation of our soldiers.
We will not fund the erasure of our history.
The World Cannot Be Deceived Forever
From one corner of the globe to another, the truth is breaking free. The fake nation that cheats and lies to the world cannot hide forever. No matter how polished their propaganda, no matter how carefully staged their performances, darkness cannot cover truth forever.
The world will soon see: the landmine show is fake, the humanitarian mask is false, and the aggression is real.
If I were a Thai citizen, I would feel deep shame. To live under leaders who spread lies, poison, humiliation, and cultural theft is to live in dishonour. Ambition may bring them temporary applause, but history remembers only truth.
The Path Forward: Unity and Dignity
Cambodia must remain united. Soldiers will defend our borders. Citizens will defend our economy. Writers, public voices and activists will defend our truth.
The victim today is Cambodia. But the larger victim is justice.
We must not only survive — we must expose.
We must not only resist — we must unite.
We must not only remember — we must teach the world.
Because in the end, ambition fades, deception crumbles, but dignity endures.
Cambodia has endured centuries of struggle. We will endure this too. And when the fake show falls apart, the world will see clearly who was the aggressor, and who stood with truth.
Dr. Thourn Sinan is a spiritual and tourism professional. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
