Thailand Rejects UN Claims Over Cambodia Conflict

Thailand Rejects UN Claims Over Cambodia Conflict

Thailand has rejected several claims made by UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews concerning the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia conflict, arguing that some of the figures and descriptions in his recent report are inaccurate. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country did not initiate the conflict and instead accused Cambodia of carrying out what it described as indiscriminate attacks against civilian areas in Thailand. Bangkok also challenged a figure of around 650,000 internally displaced people in Cambodia, arguing that part of the number referred to Cambodians who had remained in areas Thailand opened as temporary shelters decades ago and who, according to Thailand, had not returned despite repeated requests. The Thai government also disputed claims involving around 900,000 Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand, saying the figure included both legal workers and people who had entered or worked illegally. Thailand stressed that many workers returned voluntarily after calls from the Cambodian government and denied having a policy of expelling Cambodian workers. The MFA said Thailand remains committed to humanitarian principles, human rights and cooperation with UN mechanisms, while standing by its position on the conflict.