Rome: Cambodia aims to portray itself as the victim in the ongoing border tensions, with the alleged intent of bringing the case to the International Court of Justice, potentially causing detriment to Thailand. Mr. Rangsiman Rome, an MP and deputy leader of the Prachachon Party, emphasized the importance of disseminating information about the situation to other civilized nations while maintaining that retaliation should be strategic and not fall into Cambodia's alleged trap.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Rangsiman, who also chairs the House of Representatives' Committee on State Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy and National Reform, revealed that the committee is actively pursuing clarity on the Thai-Cambodian conflict. Following a recent meeting, it was decided to summon key figures, including the Prime Minister and other officials, to provide detailed explanations regarding the issue, after previous representatives failed to adequately clarify the situation. A new meeting is scheduled for July 31.
In response to questions about alleged Cambodian military actions targeting civilians, Mr. Rangsiman described such actions as war crimes and stressed the necessity of gathering evidence. Highlighting the strategic use of Preah Vihear as a defensive shield, he called for the rapid and clear presentation of information to the international community to ensure global awareness of the situation.
Further, when questioned about Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet's submission to the United Nations General Assembly accusing Thailand of initiating military clashes, Mr. Rangsiman expressed no surprise. He reiterated that Cambodia's strategy appears to involve leveraging international mechanisms against Thailand by portraying itself as the victim.
The strategy allegedly includes preemptively preparing submissions to international bodies to cast Thailand in a negative light. Mr. Rangsiman, citing conversations with security forces, suggested that Cambodia's endgame is to escalate the dispute to the International Court of Justice, with little regard for the safety of civilians along the border.
Moreover, Mr. Rangsiman speculated that this approach might be part of Hun Sen's legacy, aiming to demonstrate strong leadership. He urged Thailand to collect comprehensive information to counteract these moves effectively. While not ruling out retaliation, he emphasized that any counteraction should aim to garner international support for Thailand.
Lastly, addressing social media attacks, Mr. Rangsiman acknowledged the inevitability of information operations in such conflicts. He stressed the importance of resisting misinformation and urged caution in sharing sensitive information, which could compromise the safety of both civilians and soldiers on the front lines.