Diplomatic Corps Briefing on Thailand – Cambodia Border Situation
by Ms. Pinsuda Jayanama,
Director-General of Department of International Organisations,
on 4 August 2025 at 10.30 hrs. at Naradhip Auditorium
Excellencies,
It is my honour to address this important gathering once again.
Today, I wish to present a full and accurate account of the Thailand – Cambodia border situation in the context of United Nations and Thailand’s responses as follows:
First is Cambodia’s indiscriminate armed attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in violation of international humanitarian law.
As of 1 August 2025, the strike by the Cambodian artilleries against Phanom Dong Rak Hospitals in Surin Province approximately 10 kilometers inside Thailand, and aggressive, indiscriminate and unlawful acts against Thai civilians and civilian infrastructures, have resulted in 17 deaths and 55 injuries of civilians. 137 medical facilities across 7 provinces (Ubon Ratchathani, Srisaket, Surin, Buriram, Trat, Sa Kaew, Chanthaburi) are heavily affected by the attacks, 11 of which partially suspended services, while another 126 suspended all services. I believe that many of you have witnessed the truth on the ground during the field visit last Friday.
Cambodia’s acts of aggression are the gravest and most flagrant violation of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter and international human rights and humanitarian law, as enshrined in the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
As High Contracting Parties to the afore-mentioned Conventions, both Thailand and Cambodia are bound by the obligations to uphold and refrain from breaching international humanitarian law and its principles.
These indiscriminate attacks against civilians, civilian infrastructures and public facilities, particularly medical establishments, constitute clear and serious violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, including, among others, Article 19 of the First Geneva Convention on the Protection of Medical Units and Establishments, and Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Hospitals.
The attacks are also in violation of international human rights law as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The evacuation of over 132,000 persons from their homes and the transfer of over 300 inpatients, disrupting their ongoing provisions of treatment and access to essential cares, are the result of the violation by the Cambodian side of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), including the Right to an adequate standard of living, including food and clothing, and the Right to physical and mental health.
We are also saddened by the indiscriminate attacks and the failure of Cambodia to uphold and respect the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Cambodia’s attacks have claimed many lives of children and interrupted their attendance at school. Such acts are blatant violations of the CRC, particularly in ensuring the protection and care of children, including children with disabilities, who are affected by an armed conflict, and their right to education.
Second is Cambodia’s violation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention):
Thailand condemns, in the strongest terms, the use of landmines which constitutes a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention to which both Thailand and Cambodia are parties.
In response to the landmine incidents on 16 and 23 July -- when Thai army personnel stepped on newly planted landmines while conducting routine patrols within Thailand’s territory -- Thailand submitted two official communications to the President-designate of the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, detailing Cambodia’s breach of Article 1 of the Convention, which prohibits the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines.
Thailand has also submitted another letter to the UN Secretary-General, requesting for clarification from Cambodia, pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 2, of the Convention, which provides that a State Party may seek to clarify to resolve questions relating to compliance with the provisions of the Convention by another State Party through the Secretary-General, to which Cambodia has an obligation to respond.
To date, hundreds of civilians and military personnel sustained injuries from the ongoing attacks, including physical wounds from unlawful use of landmines. Many will suffer permanent damage and disability.
Third is on the treatment of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand:
Thailand reaffirms our commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of all workers, in accordance with the Labour Protection Act and relevant obligations under the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions, ensuring fair treatment and decent work for all workers regardless of their sex, age, disability, race, nationality, religion and status.
Thailand wishes to stress that there is no evidence of systemic violations and harassment against migrant workers. In the meantime, relevant Thai Government agencies remain open to receiving substantiated complaints through established channels, including hotlines operated by the Ministry of Labour and the Royal Thai Police.
In a letter dated 30 July 2025 to the ILO, the Minister of Labour of Thailand reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to promoting and protecting labour rights, and our readiness to continue to work closely with the ILO to ensure safe and enabling environment for all workers, including migrant workers, in Thailand.
Fourth is on the surrounding area and structures of the Preah Vihear Temple World Heritage Site:
We wish to reiterate that none of the exchanges of fire between Thai and Cambodian armed forces took place anywhere near the Phra Viharn Temple. The closest area of engagement, Phu Ma Khua, is located approximately 2 kilometers away, laying entirely outside the trajectory of any Thai military operations. It is therefore impossible for bullets or shrapnel from gunfire exchanges at Phu Ma Khua to reach or cause damage to the Phra Viharn Temple.
By contrast, Cambodia’s shelling of Thailand’s territory at Prasat Don Tuan in Si Saket Province on 23 July and at Prasat Ta Khwai and Prasat Ta Muen Thom Archeological Site in Surin Province on 27 July damaged sandstone structures at those cultural sites. Such actions by Cambodia clearly constitute violations of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its 1999 Second Protocol, to which Cambodia is a State Party.
In response to Cambodia’s disinformation campaign, Thailand submitted statement and letters to the UNESCO Secretariat and circulated to all Permanent Delegations of UNESCO Member States in Paris, in order to provide a factual account of the situation and reaffirm Thailand’s unwavering commitment to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage, in accordance with relevant international conventions and legal obligations.
Lastly, allow me to mention on the treatment of Cambodian soldiers in the custody:
All 20 Cambodian soldiers in the custody have been taken care of by the Thai authorities with respect to and in accordance with international laws.
The detention of these 20 Cambodian soldiers occurred during renewed hostilities initiated by Cambodia in breach of the ceasefire agreement. The measure was undertaken in accordance with humanitarian law and does not constitute a violation of either the ceasefire or international law.
On 1 August 2025, two prisoners of war, one of which was injured and the other suffering from a mental health condition, were repatriated to the Cambodian side. The repatriation was carried out in accordance with the humanitarian principles under the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and international law, and in line with the rules and established humanitarian practices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The injury sustained by one of the Cambodian soldiers — a wound to the arm — occurred during combat and was not the result of torture by the Thai authorities as accused. The Thai authorities provided medical examinations and initial treatment for both individuals, including the soldier with the arm injury and the one with psychological trauma from combat. The findings of the medical examinations were also systematically recorded for reference.
Thailand stands ready to work with the international community to verify the facts. In this regard, Thailand has invited representatives from the International Committe of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to visit the detained soldiers.
Latest, the Royal Thai Army and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have arranged for the delegation of the ICRC to visit these Cambodian prisoners of war on 5 August 2025 in Surin province.
Excellencies,
In light of the Cambodia’s continued unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression and armed attacks, Thailand participated in the Security Council private meeting on 25 July, convened through the good offices of Pakistan as the President of the Security Council in July, to present facts, counter disinformation, and reaffirm our commitment to peaceful settlement of disputes in good faith, guided by the spirit of good neighborliness, ASEAN solidarity, and full respect for international law. We reject false narratives presented by the Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations and we thank members of the Security Council for their understanding and support.
Following the statement attributed to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on 26 July, Thailand submitted a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, providing a clear and factual account of Cambodia’s grave violations of international humanitarian law and the devastating impact of Cambodia’s attacks on civilian lives, including women and children, as well as on civilian infrastructure and public facilities, notably hospitals.
Thailand subsequently submitted another letter to bring, to the Secretary-General’s attention, Cambodia’s continued hostilities along the border in violation of the ceasefire agreed on 28 July, which left Thailand with no choice but to act in self-defence.
Excellencies,
Thailand underscores Article 33 of the UN Charter, which outlines a broad spectrum of peaceful means for conflict resolution. Our actions in the various multilateral frameworks that I just presented reflect our firm belief in multilateralism based on the rule of law as the foundation for an international system where States can co-exist peacefully and work collectively to address common challenges.
In this regard, we call upon the international community to urge Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities, stop its disinformation campaign, comply with the agreed ceasefire obligations, and return to the path of peaceful settlement of disputes through bilateral dialogue in good faith.
Thank you.
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