Synopsis: Two narratives compete for recognition as Prime Minister Hun Manet brings the territorial conflict to global media attention while Bangkok counters with claims of provocation.
Indirect exchanges between Cambodia and Thailand continued last week, with Prime Minister Hun Manet accusing Thailand of illegal occupation and other ceasefire violations, which the Thai foreign minister countered with claims of provocation.
Earlier last week, Mr Hun Manet brought the world’s attention to the Cambodia-Thailand dispute in a Reuters interview in Washington, DC, during which he accused Thai forces of illegally occupying Cambodian territory after the December military clashes. He brought it up again on Thursday while speaking to Fox News.
“Right now, when the troops have stopped fighting, the troops of Thailand are occupying all of this with the containers and the barbed wire. This is why we say the occupation is beyond even Thailand’s unilateral claim,” he said.
“Now many of the villagers cannot go back to their hometown. This is different from the joint statement that we have between the two countries that allowed the civilian to return. Even the point that after the stop, after the shooting, troops stay where they can stay and not move beyond their area’s control.”
Mr Hun Manet was in the United States to attend the inaugural Board of Peace meeting chaired by US President Donald Trump.
He said Thailand’s illegal occupation continued despite the peace deal brokered by Trump.
“We have already known for the past six months President Trump has been tremendous and played a tremendous role in facilitating and securing the first ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand,” he said. “He always mentioned that the life of people is very important. So stopping war is his personal mandate.”
Cambodia, Mr Hun Manet added, is committed to the ceasefire and other peaceful mechanisms.
“Our position is always to stick to the peaceful resolutions and peaceful dialogue because we don’t believe that using war to stop a war is sustainable or practical,” he said.
“This is why we ask Thailand to go back to the agreements that we have, including the KL Peace Accord, which President Trump witnessed, which sets out a clear condition to solve this issue, because the conflict between Thailand, the root cause, is the territorial conflict.”
Also on Friday, while speaking with Atlantic Council leaders Jim Jones and Frederick Kempe, Mr Hun Manet outlined Cambodia’s approach to the border conflict, stressing diplomatic patience and adherence to international law, treaties, and conventions.
The Prime Minister said Phnom Penh seeks a peaceful settlement through bilateral agreements and global legal frameworks. He asked the Council to help disseminate an accurate account of the dispute, clarifying that his briefing was a factual presentation rather than an accusation.
Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow last week accused Cambodia of provoking Thailand through a series of actions and accusations, which he described as affecting mutual relations and the ceasefire.
“The door for dialogue is already open for both countries, so no third country should be included, nor should the issue be taken to various international platforms,” Sihasak told the press.
He said Cambodia’s actions, including Mr Hun Manet’s accusations in interviews with foreign media, are making the situation more complicated.
“Cambodia’s continued actions suggest an intention to put pressure on Thailand, which would not help to ease the situation,” he added. “Cambodia should avoid any actions that could further complicate the conflict.
Thailand has refrained from making critical comments and prefers bilateral talks between the two sides, Sihasak said.
Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona said that by speaking to international media, Cambodia is able to draw greater international attention to the border conflict.
Speaking in a press briefing on Thursday, Bona said the Prime Minister’s interviews have prompted the international community to pay closer attention to Thailand’s violations of Cambodia’s territorial integrity.
“In particular, (Hun Manet’s) peace-orientated stance and respect for international law, through seeking peaceful solutions to the issue, demonstrate a mature, gentle, and appropriate diplomatic policy aligned with the aspirations of the international community, especially in line with the spirit of the Board of Peace meeting currently taking place in Washington,” he added.
International Relations Institute Director Kin Phea likened Mr Hun Manet’s interviews with foreign media to “rain in the middle of a dry season.”
“Our top leaders, including ministers and heads of institutions, rarely give direct interviews to journalists. Moreover, Cambodia does not host permanent bureaus of major international media outlets,” he said.
“As a result, many international reports rely solely on sources from the opposing side. Consequently, numerous facts have been concealed, packaged, or distorted with the intent to smear or misrepresent us, straying from the truth.”
The interviews, said Phea, prove that it is extremely important for Cambodia to build a positive relationship with major international media outlets.
“Even more important is preserving the value of truthful information in order to build credibility and trust,” he said. “Being misrepresented is deeply painful, and it is precisely this pain that helps us better understand the power of truth.”
“It should be remembered that the harshest punishment for a liar is that even when they tell the truth, no one believes them,” Phea added.
The Cambodian PR team said in a statement last week that the Cambodian government is not concealing information about the border from the public.
“The Royal Government consistently disseminates information on a regular basis and in various forms through official statements, press releases from relevant ministries and institutions, national and international media outlets, and other public forums concerning developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border,” the statement read.
It said that information related to security and border strategy cannot be disclosed in full detail because that could affect on-the-ground operations and the safety of Cambodian forces.
