Phnom penh: Cambodia has strongly and categorically rejected what it calls baseless propaganda, unfounded accusations, and deliberately fabricated claims lacking evidence and proper investigation. H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, Under Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, delivered the response during a press briefing in Phnom Penh this afternoon. The statement follows reports circulated by Thai media claiming that the Buriram Provincial Police had arrested a Cambodian soldier from the Bodyguard Headquarters, allegedly hiding in Thailand to spy on Thai military movements.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the spokesperson emphasized that the claims, promoted by certain Thai media outlets, seem intended to slander Cambodia. H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata particularly highlighted that the Ministry of National Defence and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have stringent protocols in place that prevent individuals with specific tattoos from serving in any capacity within their ranks.
H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata urged the Thai side to immediately halt the dissemination of fabricated and unfounded information. She stated that the spread of such information reflects a serious lack of professionalism on the part of the media institutions involved in promoting these claims.