Thai navy rejects claims toxic substances were used in border fumigation

The Thai Navy has dismissed a report and video footage posted on social media claiming that there was a hostile confrontation between Thai and Cambodian forces along the common border in Ban Tha Sen, Muang district of Trat, on July 10.

Naval spokesman Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaipan said that there was, however, a minor incident in the border area last Friday, when a group of Cambodian soldiers approached Thai marines to express their dissatisfaction over the reinforcement of the border fence.

He insisted that the Thai marines were simply doing their job of reinforcing the barbed-wire border fence, in full compliance with the December joint statement by Thailand and Cambodia, and did not do anything that could be construed as a provocative act.

He claimed, however, that some ill-intentioned elements had exploited the incident to create misunderstandings and escalate tensions between the two countries.

The spokesman then cited another incident on July 8, when Thai health officials carried out fumigation to get rid of mosquitoes at the border and protect troops.

Again, he claimed that ill-intentioned elements had exaggerated the incident by falsely claiming that poisonous substances were used in the fumigation.

He reiterated that Thai marines have always exercised restraint in carrying out their duties in the border area.