Thailand to continue military action until sovereignty fully secured - Sihasak

Thailand will continue military action against Cambodia until the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are no longer under threat, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told members of the foreign diplomatic corps and international organisations today.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said Sihasak chaired the briefing to update them on developments in the escalating conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border. 73 representatives, including ambassadors from 58 countries, one regional body and two international organisations, attended the session.

Thailand has faced repeated threats to its safety and dignity. Its position will not change unless Cambodia alters its stance and chooses the path of peace, Sihasak said.

Thailand maintains that Cambodia has violated both the ceasefire agreement and the Kuala Lumpur joint declaration signed in October.

Sihasak said the latest border clashes, which erupted yesterday, again reflect what Thailand describes as Cambodia’s “repeated tactics” of initiating violence and later denying responsibility, including continuing provocations, such as the alleged planting of landmines.

Although Cambodia has publicly called for peace and restraint, Sihasak said its actions contradict that message, reiterating that Cambodian forces fired into Thai territory on December 7 in the Phu Pat area of Buri Ram province, injuring two Thai soldiers. Thailand filed a formal protest and asked ASEAN’s observer team to verify facts surrounding the incident.

More clashes occurred early on December 8, with Cambodian troops striking multiple Thai positions. Thai officials also report signs that Cambodia has moved long-range weaponry closer to the border.

As of this morning, one Thai soldier has been killed and eight others wounded.

An “alarming development,” Sihasak said, was the firing of BM-21 multiple-rocket launchers by Cambodian forces into Thai civilian areas.

In response to international media reports, that Thailand launched airstrikes into Cambodia, Sihasak said the strikes were carried out strictly in self-defence on terrain heavily contaminated with landmines, leaving “no choice.”

He stressed that all Thai military actions comply with international law, including Article 51 of the UN Charter, follow the principles of necessity and proportionality and are directed only at military targets.

Sihasak cited a series of landmine incidents, raised by Thailand at the Ottawa Convention meeting on December 5th, as further evidence of Cambodian violations of bilateral commitments.

The minister’s second major point concerned the humanitarian impact. Nearly 400,000 residents in Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Sa Kaeo have been evacuated to temporary shelters.

More than 600 schools and several hospitals along the border have suspended operations, disrupting essential services and affecting basic rights.

The third point focused on what Thailand described as Cambodia’s “systematic dissemination of false information” aimed at shifting blame.

Examples cited included the use of archive footage, falsely claiming Thai defensive actions caused Cambodian schoolchildren to flee, despite the area having been evacuated days earlier.

Cambodian agencies were also accused of spreading claims that Thailand initiated the latest attacks.

Sihasak claimed that this is part of a recurring pattern of politically motivated fabrications, intended to deflect attention from Cambodia’s alleged violations, including landmine placements within Thai territory.

Nikorndej added that the ministry has met with the Malaysian ambassador and the chargé d’affaires of the United States, the witness countries for the Kuala Lumpur joint declaration signing, and has issued a formal protest note to Cambodia.

Diplomatic notes have also been circulated to all ASEAN member states, the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council to detail Thailand’s account of events.

The Thai government says that all agencies are working in unity to defend Thailand’s sovereignty, protect its territory and ensure the safety of its people.

Given what it calls Cambodia’s ongoing misinformation campaign, the ministry urged the public to rely on official government, military and Foreign Ministry channels for updates and encouraged the media to present complete and accurate information.