Bangkok asks UNSC to intervene over Cambodian acts of aggression

Thailand has called on the international community, in its letter to the UN Security Council dated December 9, to urge Cambodia to cease all acts of hostility and provocations that inflict harm upon the Thai people.

It also demands that Cambodia provide a full explanation for its violation of Thailand’s territorial sovereignty and integrity, accept full responsibility, and put in place measures to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.

Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Thailand’s Permanent Representative to the UN, described in the letter a sequence of unprovoked Cambodian attacks and the impacts on civilians and the Thai military.

The letter was addressed to Samuel Žbogar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the Security Council.

The letter said the first incident took place on December 7 at 2.15pm, when Cambodian forces opened fire on Thai troops from Infantry Battalion 13 while they were conducting route maintenance on Thai territory in the Phu Pha Lek–Phlan Hin Paet Kon area of Kantharalak District, Si Sa Ket Province.

The attack wounded two soldiers, one in the chest and another with a gunshot to the right leg, and continued until about 2.50pm.

The situation escalated in the early hours of December 8, when at 05:05am Cambodian troops allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on a Thai military base in the Chong Anh Ma area of Ubon Ratchathani.

According to the letter, this was “immediately followed by widespread and indiscriminate assaults” across Thai territory in Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani.

That same afternoon, Cambodia purportedly further escalated hostilities by firing heavy machine guns at Thai forces at Ban Nong Ya Kaew, Khok Sung district, Sa Kaeo.

By 6pm on December 8, Thailand reports the attacks had affected five provinces, causing one death and 18 military injuries (three in critical condition), while forcing more than 400,000 residents to flee their homes.

The letter adds that two evacuees died of heart attacks during evacuation.

Thailand accuses Cambodian forces of carrying out “repeated, disproportionate, and unlawful attacks” on Thai territory that deliberately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure, and of employing heavy weaponry including multiple rocket launchers, mortars and heavy machine guns.

Thailand further alleges ongoing mobilisation of Cambodian heavy weapons and personnel along the border.

Citing the UN Charter, Thailand contends that the attacks constitute a clear violation of Article 2(4), which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

In response, Thailand has exercised its inherent right of self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of the Thai people.

Bangkok stresses that its self-defence measures are “limited in scope, proportionate to the threat” and aimed solely at neutralising the imminent danger posed by Cambodian forces, while making the “utmost effort” to avoid harm to civilians and civilian objects.

Thailand accuses Cambodian officials of deliberately disseminating false narratives that wrongly claim Thailand initiated the attacks.

The letter describes these as further provocations intended to distort facts and undermine Thailand’s credibility internationally, and categorically rejects those accusations.

The mission says the recent attacks are part of a repeated and escalating pattern of hostile acts by Cambodia.

The letter references prior incidents, including the alleged unlawful emplacement of newly planted PMN-2 landmines on Thai territory that have permanently disabled seven Thai military personnel, with the most recent mine incident cited as occurring on November 10.

It also cited a separate incident of Cambodian soldiers firing on Thai troops within Thai sovereign territory on November 12.

Thailand said these actions breach commitments made in the Joint Declaration signed by the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia on October 26 in Kuala Lumpur, which was facilitated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia in his capacity as ASEAN Chair and involved the President of the United States as a witness to the outcomes.

Thailand therefore “strongly condemns” Cambodia’s acts of aggression, indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects, and what it calls an apparent intent to harm Thai personnel within Thailand’s sovereign territory.

he letter warns that Cambodia’s continued hostile acts only escalate tensions, undermine the Joint Declaration and other General and Regional Border Committee agreements, and erode the mutual trust necessary for constructive engagement.

The letter concludes by demanding that Cambodia provide a full explanation, accept full responsibility, and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Thailand calls upon the international community and the Security Council to urge Cambodia to cease hostilities that harm Thai people and destabilise border security, and to comply fully with international law and the UN Charter.

The Thai mission requests that the letter be circulated to all Security Council members for urgent attention.