Thai authorities criticize Cambodia's House Speaker for spreading misinformation
In a recent development, the Thai government has strongly denied accusations made by Cambodia regarding the use of chemical weapons in their ongoing conflict. Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister and member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Thai-Cambodian Border Affairs, condemned Khuon Sudary, President of the Cambodian National Assembly, for making false and distorted claims at the Inter-Parliamentary Union's high-level meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
These distortions of the truth, according to Jirayu, should be viewed as deliberate. The Thai government has emphasized that it does not develop, produce, possess, or use chemical weapons and reiterated its full commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and international humanitarian law.
Thailand's denial comes in response to allegations made by Cambodia, which claimed that Thai forces initiated the use of chemical weapons. However, independent sources and global observers are aware that Cambodian forces initiated the recent escalation.
Regarding the images circulated by Cambodia showing aircraft emitting smoke over disputed territories, Thai officials stated these are normal military operations like decoy flares or condensation trails, not chemical weapons deployment. Neutral military experts and international bodies have not substantiated Cambodia’s chemical weapons claims.
Thailand insists that its military responses are necessary, proportionate, and defensive actions in response to provocations by Cambodia, which Thailand accuses of initiating hostilities. Jirayu accused Sudary of disregarding diplomatic norms by accusing Thailand of violating the ceasefire agreement and using chemical weapons against Cambodian civilians.
The use of such disinformation campaigns, according to Jirayu, undermines ongoing peace-building efforts in the region. In fact, some images used by Cambodia were found to be misleading or falsely linked, such as a photo of fire retardant dropped by a US aircraft being misrepresented as chemical weapons used by Thailand.
The Thai government rejects the allegations as fabricated and damaging to regional peace and stability. It has previously clarified that these images do not show the use of chemical weapons. The Royal Thai Armed Forces called Cambodia’s claims "completely unfounded" and "a serious distortion of facts," describing the accusations as daily lies and strategic disinformation aimed at manipulating international opinion.
In conclusion, the Thai government stands firm in its commitment to peace and adherence to international law. It urges Cambodia to refrain from spreading false information and to engage in diplomatic dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict.
- Jirayu, speaking on behalf of the Thai government, emphasizes Thailand's commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and international humanitarian law, denying any use of chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict with Cambodia.
- The Thai military's responses, according to Jirayu, are necessary, proportionate, and defensive actions, as opposed to the offensive actions that the Thai government accuses Cambodia of initiating.
- The Thai government urges Cambodia to refrain from spreading false information and to engage in diplomatic dialogue, seeking to foster regional peace and stability, rather than undermining it through disinformation campaigns.
