Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow delivered a sharp rebuke against Cambodia during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accusing the neighbouring country of lying, provoking conflict, and repeatedly breaching its ceasefire agreement with Thailand.
Speaking on Saturday local time at the UNGA’s 80th session in New York, Mr. Sihasak addressed the chamber following remarks by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sokhonn Prak, who alleged that Cambodian civilians had been forcibly evicted from land they had lived on for decades.
Sokhonn also claimed that Thailand launched an unprovoked attack near a highly sensitive site.
The Cambodian representative’s comments appeared to be a reference to Thailand’s efforts to reclaim part of Ban Nong Chan village in Sa Kaeo province. The area has been home to Cambodian refugees since the 1970s, when thousands fled across the border during the brutal years of Cambodia’s civil war.
Thailand has long argued that the territory is within its sovereignty and that the Cambodian presence, which began as a humanitarian arrangement, has expanded despite repeated objections.
The disagreement over Ban Nong Chan has been one of several long-running flashpoints in Thai-Cambodian relations, often spilling into heated diplomatic exchanges and, at times, cross-border skirmishes.
In his address, Mr. Sihasak rejected Phnom Penh’s allegations in firm terms.
“To my dismay, Cambodia continues to present itself as the victim. Time and time again it has portrayed its own version of the facts, which does not hold up to scrutiny because it is simply a distortion of the truth,” Sihasak told the assembly.
He added that Cambodia’s actions have caused real suffering on the ground.
“We know who are the real victims: they are Thai soldiers who have lost their legs to landmines, children whose schools were shelled, and innocent civilians who were shopping that day at the grocery store that came under attack from Cambodian rocket fire,” the foreign minister said.
Mr. Sihasak also noted the contrast between the Cambodian statement delivered to the assembly and the tone of private talks held just one day earlier.
“Yesterday…we talked about peace, dialogue, mutual trust and confidence….but unfortunately, what was said today by the Cambodian side was completely opposite.”
“The allegations were so far-fetched they make a mockery of the truth,” he said.
According to the Thai foreign minister, he had planned to use his UN address to promote a constructive message about cooperation, but the Cambodian remarks forced him to abandon his prepared speech and respond directly to what he described as falsehoods.
On the issue of alleged forced evictions, Mr. Sihasak firmly rejected the claims, insisting that the land in question belongs to Thailand.
“The villages referred to by my Cambodian colleague are in Thai territory, full stop. In fact, they exist because Thailand made the humanitarian decision to open up our borders in the late 1970s for hundreds of thousands of Cambodians fleeing the civil war. As a young diplomat, I witnessed that scene myself,” he said.
He explained that although the refugee shelters were closed after the conflict ended, the settlements gradually expanded over time. Despite repeated protests from Bangkok, Cambodian families continued to remain in the area.
Mr. Sihasak highlighted that far from acting as an aggressor, Thailand has been one of Cambodia’s strongest supporters in rebuilding after decades of war and political upheaval.
He reminded the assembly that following the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, which ended years of conflict in Cambodia, Thailand played a central role in supporting reconstruction efforts.
According to him, Thailand provided homes, built roads, and assisted with hospitals and other facilities, all with the goal of ensuring stability in its neighbour. “Because peace in Cambodia is in Thailand’s interest,” he said, stressing that regional stability remains a top priority for Bangkok.
Accusations of Military Violations
Turning to recent incidents along the border, Mr. Sihasak accused Cambodia of intentionally provoking clashes through its military actions.
He alleged that Cambodian forces had mobilised civilians into contested areas, fired weapons across the boundary, and even deployed surveillance drones over Thai territory.
“These actions constitute a violation of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the ceasefire agreement,” he said, underscoring that such behaviour undermines any genuine attempt at building trust.
Despite the fiery tone of his speech, the foreign minister emphasised that Thailand continues to stand by a commitment to peace and dialogue.
“Thailand has always, and will always, stand for peace,” Mr. Sihasak declared in his concluding remarks. “At the same time, Thailand will always stand firm and resolute in the defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“Thailand chooses the path of peace… but we really question whether it is the intention of Cambodia to join us in the pursuit for peace.”
The exchange highlights the fragility of Thai-Cambodian relations, which have frequently been tested by disputes over territory, heritage sites, and the placement of border markers. The long-running conflict over the Preah Vihear temple, for example, has led to violence in the past and remains a point of contention.
Diplomats noted that Mr. Sihasak’s unusually sharp language at the UN suggested Thailand felt compelled to counter Cambodia’s claims on the international stage.
His intervention aimed to remind the international community of Thailand’s humanitarian record, while also defending its territorial integrity against what he described as repeated provocations.
Whether the two countries can de-escalate tensions remains uncertain. Despite previous bilateral meetings and mechanisms for dialogue, both sides continue to accuse each other of bad faith.
The latest exchange at the UNGA underscores how sensitive the issue remains, and how easily old disputes can resurface in international forums.
For now, Thailand insists it will continue to defend its borders while seeking peaceful solutions. Cambodia, meanwhile, maintains that its civilians remain vulnerable to eviction and attack.
With both governments trading accusations in such a high-profile setting, the path forward for Thai-Cambodian relations looks set to be difficult.
