Phnom penh: H.E. Chum Sounry, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has once again categorically rejected Thailand's baseless accusation that Cambodian forces have targeted civilians.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Thai media outlets reported yesterday that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to file a complaint with the International Committee of the Red Cross and intends to bring the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging Cambodia's violation of international humanitarian law.
'This is a baseless allegation and a distortion of facts by the Thai side,' H.E. Chum Sounry underlined, reaffirming that Cambodia remains fully committed to its international obligations. He emphasized that Cambodia has strictly avoided targeting civilians in accordance with its commitments under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
Regarding Thailand's further accusation that Cambodia has laid new landmines along the border-a claim the Thai army reportedly used as a pretext for violating Cambodia's territorial integrity-H.E. Chum Sounry reiterated Cambodia's strong adherence to the Ottawa Convention (Mine Ban Treaty). He stated that Cambodia remains a State Party with a high level of commitment to the Ottawa Convention and continues to actively cooperate with international mine action organizations, a commitment that has earned Cambodia praise from the international community, particularly from the United Nations.
The spokesperson reaffirmed Cambodia's support for the United Nations Security Council's call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, urging Thailand to return to diplomatic channels instead of making unfounded allegations of war crimes. He also called on the international community, including the United Nations and ASEAN, to assess the situation with reason and fairness, considering the historical context of Thai aggression and Cambodia's consistent reliance on diplomacy to resolve disputes.
'Cambodia remains steadfast in defending its national sovereignty, preserving regional peace and stability, and calls on Thailand to act responsibly to prevent further escalation of tensions,' H.E. Chum Sounry concluded.