Thailand hits back at ‘inaccuracies’ in UN expert’s Cambodia findings
Thailand has issued a full-throated rebuttal of comments by a UN human rights specialist whose visit last week to Cambodia found 20,000 people remain displaced by the border war, as the neighbouring nations engage in a battle for international opinion over their deadly territorial dispute. Thailand and Cambodia fought a brief but bloody border war in July and December last year that killed scores…
Thailand has vehemently disputed a United Nations human rights specialist's assessment of the impact of the border conflict between the two nations, claiming inaccuracies in the report. The assessment highlighted that approximately 20,000 people remained displaced by the ongoing territorial dispute, contradicting Thailand's assertions.
The conflict escalated in July and December last year, resulting in a displacement of roughly a million people. The ceasefire, which has held since December 2025, has been punctuated by sporadic clashes along the 800km border. The UN specialist, Tom Andrews, expressed concern over the displacement, stating that the displaced individuals have the right to return to their homes as per international law.
However, Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow refuted the report, pointing out inaccuracies and asserting that the Thai government cannot accept the claims made. He also criticized Andrews for holding a press conference before the report was officially endorsed by the UN's Human Rights Council. The border dispute has further strained the relationship between Thailand and Cambodia, impacting bilateral trade and tourism.
Efforts to mend relations have been hampered by differing narratives and accusations of unfair tactics by both nations.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
