‘Don’t look away’ from Cambodia’s attacks on Thai civilians - Thai envoy tells UNSC
Thailand has called for Cambodia to halt all hostilities and acts of aggression and to resume dialogue in good faith, following a series of, what Bangkok describes as, unprovoked and indiscriminate attacks by Cambodian forces on Thai territory which have left at least 14 dead, including four children, and displaced over 130,000 people.
Speaking during a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Thailand’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, condemned Cambodia’s military actions as a “grave violation” of international law and the UN Charter, accusing Phnom Penh of undermining regional peace and stability.
Thailand said the situation has sharply deteriorated since July 24, when Cambodian forces launched artillery strikes and cross-border attacks on four Thai provinces, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani, targeting both military and civilian areas.
“These attacks have caused serious harm and suffering to innocent civilians,” the Thai envoy said, citing damage to civilian infrastructure, including a hospital and a school.
Images of the victims, including a mother and her three children killed while shopping, were shown to Council members, with an appeal to “not look away.”
Thailand described Cambodia’s actions as not only a breach of the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force, but also a violation of the Geneva Convention, citing attacks on medical facilities and the use of landmines in previously cleared Thai territory.
Two Thai soldiers were maimed by newly laid mines during routine patrols earlier in July. Thailand noted that, while it had destroyed all of its anti-personnel mine stockpiles in 2019, Cambodia continues to retain such weapons, as confirmed in its own transparency reports.
Despite the provocations, Thailand said it has exercised restraint and acted strictly in self-defence, under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The envoy stressed that its military operations are “limited in scope, proportionate and targeted solely at legitimate military threats,” with all efforts made to avoid civilian harm.
The Thai representative also rejected Cambodia’s claims that the ancient Phra Viharn Temple had been damaged by Thai fire, describing the allegations “baseless” and “disinformation.”
Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful dispute resolution and ASEAN principles, emphasising that it had repeatedly engaged Cambodia through bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), most recently during a meeting held in Phnom Penh on June 14.
Bangkok accused Cambodia of avoiding meaningful dialogue in favour of internationalising the dispute for political gain.
“Thailand is a peace-loving nation,” the Thai representative concluded. “We categorically reject the use of force to resolve disputes, but we will not stand idle in the face of aggression. We call on Cambodia to return to the path of diplomacy, cease all hostile actions, and uphold its international obligations.”