Thailand pushes back on UN expert’s Cambodia conflict statement

Thailand has responded to a UN Special Rapporteur's statement regarding the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, asserting that Thailand did not initiate the conflict and attributing it to "indiscriminate attacks" by Cambodia on Thai civilian areas. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed several points, including the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cambodia, claiming that the figure of 650,000 includes some Cambodians living in areas where Thailand had opened temporary shelters in the late 1970s, and that they should not be classified as IDPs.

Additionally, Thailand disputed the figure of 900,000 Cambodian migrant workers returning to Cambodia, stating that the number included both legally employed workers and those who entered Thailand illegally, and that they returned voluntarily. The Thai government emphasized its commitment to upholding human rights and international humanitarian law, urging UN human rights mechanisms to maintain independence and impartiality in their assessments.

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