THE Thai army today (Feb. 22) rebutted claims made in a report published by The New York Editorial that the country had violated international law and used excessive force in the border conflict with Cambodia underscoring that Thailand in fact strictly adheres to international law, PPTVHD36 said.
Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvari, the army’s spokesperson, said this report which was posted on Facebook on Friday Feb. 20 lacked clear sources and contained distorted information inconsistent with the facts on the ground. It appeared to be based solely on information from the Cambodian side, which consistently presents false news to the international community.
He clarified the following points:
– On the claim that Thailand violated international law because although Cambodia initiated the conflict, Thailand escalated it, causing severe damage, with the border dispute allegedly merely being a ploy to win the general election, the Thai army reaffirmed that it strictly adheres to and acts in accordance with international law.
Military operations are based on the severity of the situation on the ground, according to the rules of engagement, and are legitimate exercises of self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
When faced with a security threat, the Thai Army must act according to its duties and rights, and this is unrelated to the claim that the border dispute was merely a ploy to win the election.
– On accusation that Thailand used excessive force by scrambling F-16 fighter jets to launch air attacks after a single soldier was injured by a landmine, the Thai military reaffirmed that it coordinated its operations appropriately across all branches to protect Thai sovereignty and ensure the safety of the public to the best of its ability.
The Thai military operations were not solely a retaliation for the alleged landmine incident, but rather a response to Cambodia’s initiation of heavy weapon attacks on Thai troops and civilian areas.
Furthermore, civilian areas and community buildings were used as military bases, necessitating the request for F-16 aircraft support to disrupt Cambodia’s attack capabilities.
Maj. Gen. Winthai reaffirmed that Thailand focused only on “military targets” posing a threat to innocent civilians, acting cautiously and proportionally to limit damage to the combat zone.
– Regarding the claim that Thailand used illegal weapons, such cluster munitions, weapons largely banned worldwide and tragically resulting in the death of 10-year-old Son Sovanh in the Preah Vihear temple area, the Thai army maintains that this is a complete distortion of what took place.
The use of 155mm dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) was intended to destroy military targets, not anti-personnel mines, and has no long-term residue. Furthermore, Thailand is not a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of Cluster Ammunition, unlike many major powers.
The use of these shells was based on necessity and was primarily aimed at military equipment, vehicles, and structures, never at individuals.
Regarding the death of the Cambodian boy, investigations revealed it was an accident caused by dismantling an old explosive device to search for metal fragments outside the conflict zone and was unrelated to any Thai operation.
Concerning the Preah Vihear temple, the Thai Army reiterates that Cambodia intentionally used the historical site as a base for heavy weapons to attack Thailand and is solely responsible for this.
– Regarding the claim that Thailand used psychological warfare, specifically playing the loud “ghostly sounds” and funeral music at 3 a.m. to frighten villagers, the Thai army pointed out that this was not a military operation.
In fact a group of Thai civilians had carried it out to express their dissatisfaction with violation of Thai sovereignty.
The use of such noise was not torture as the Cambodian encroachers could have left Thai territory to avoid it at any time. Conversely, it is Cambodia that often uses psychological warfare and information operations to portray itself as the victim in the eyes of the world.
– Regarding the claim that the Thai government used the border conflict to win votes in the Feb. 8 general election, in fact the Thai army is bound by law to protect sovereignty from encroachment and ensure the safety of the public.
This is not a political game played by any particular group or party, but a matter involving all Thai people.
– On the allegation that almost 98,000 Cambodian citizens remain displaced, the Thai army pointed out that this total is inaccurate and greatly exaggerated as in fact three villages in Sa Kaeo province that were encroached upon by Cambodian civilians were affected,
No more than 1,000 households were affected and the total likely being several thousand but not 98,000 or nearly 100,000 as claimed.
Cambodia has always been aware that these three villages are within Thai territory. In the past, Thailand provided refuge to Cambodian refugees fleeing conflict, but after the war ended, the Cambodian civilians and soldiers refused to return to their country.
Furthermore, they have continuously expanded their communities, encroaching on Thai sovereignty. Thailand has repeatedly protested and demanded action be taken through various working groups, but Cambodia has ignored these demands and refused to resolve the issue of moving their people back to their territory.
Therefore, these individuals are not considered displaced persons, as Cambodia claims, but rather a group of people who have continuously violated Thai law and encroached upon Thai sovereignty for a long time.
The question then arises for the international community: Should Thailand be held responsible for this?
Considering all aspects, the party responsible should be Cambodia, as they initiated the entire situation. Specifically, the use of long-range weapons to harm Thai civilians is clearly supported by evidence and proof.
The Thai side responded in accordance with international standards and within appropriate levels, ensuring that there were no adverse effects on the citizens of both countries.
CAPTIONS:
Top – Thai soldiers next to the barbed-wire fence at the Thai-Cambodian border. Photo – PPTVHD36
First insert – Old landmines that Thailand says were detonated and recovered near the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia are displayed during a media visit organised by the Thai Army, following a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, in Surin province, Thailand, on August 20, 2025. Photo – Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa and published by Yahoo!News
Second insert – Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvari. Photo – Amarin TV
Third insert – A BM-21 rocket hit a temple in Surin on Dec. 14, 2025, damaging several pavilions as well as a military vehicle but fortunately no one got injured. Photo – Naewna
Front Page – Thai villagers chaotically evacuate from Ubon Ratchathani’s Dom Pradit subdistrict. Photos – Amarin TV
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