Phnom penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia has strongly rejected accusations by a Thai senior official that Cambodian forces are using civilians as human shields amid the ongoing border tension.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Chum Sounry, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, addressed the media this afternoon, stating that the claims are baseless and distort the reality on the ground. He emphasized that Cambodian civilians have long resided in the contested area and are now suffering due to the unilateral laying of barbed wire, which prevents them from accessing their homes and farmland.
The spokesperson further dismissed allegations regarding the planting of new landmines by Cambodia along the border. He highlighted that Cambodia, being one of the most mine-affected countries in the world, has no policy or interest in using such dangerous weapons. The remnants of landmines from past conflicts, he noted, continue to pose significant threats to civilians on both sides of the border.
H.E. Chum Sounry reiterated Cambodia's commitment to the UN Charter and all core international human rights treaties to which the nation is a signatory.