Thai - Cambodia Conflict Tensions Rise as Govt Denies Army Beheading Rumours

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The Thai government has firmly rejected claims that its military committed brutal acts against Cambodian soldiers, dismissing them as false and inflammatory disinformation intended to stir up bilateral tensions.

 

Accusations, including online posts alleging Thai soldiers beheaded and desecrated Cambodian troop bodies, have been labelled baseless by deputy government spokeswoman Sasikarn Watthanachan.

 

"We firmly deny these accusations." These are fabricated stories with no factual basis, aimed at inciting hatred and creating unrest between the peoples of Thailand and Cambodia," she stated.

 

She emphasised that Thai military operations align with international humanitarian law and military codes of conduct, citing examples of Thai personnel providing medical care to injured Cambodian soldiers before safely repatriating them, according to The Bangkok Post.

 

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society released a list highlighting the week's top ten fake news stories related to the rising tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border.

 

Among the claims were false reports of beheadings, alleged combat involving 140 Thai soldier fatalities, unverified reports of 40 troops killed and 30 captured, as well as rumours of Norway donating F-16 fighter jets to Thailand.

 

Other fabricated stories included a supposed "war disaster zone" declaration by the Surin governor, allegations Thailand reclaimed the Preah Vihear temple, untrue reports of biological weapons use against Cambodia, fake stories about toxic chemical attacks on civilians, fabricated military fundraising campaigns, and claims that the Ministry of Defence halted medical aid to Cambodians.

 

"We urge everyone to avoid sharing unverified content and to consult official sources," Ms. Sasikarn advised. The public is encouraged to report suspicious content to the Anti-Fake News Centre through various channels, including hotline 1111 and their website.

 

Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub, who works at the centre for managing the situation at the Thai-Cambodian border, confirmed that as of 7am Sunday, no further clashes had been reported. This comes as efforts continue to manage tensions and prevent misinformation from escalating the situation further.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-04

 

[Pouatchee]

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