BANGKOK - Thailand has challenged parts of a UN expert’s account of Cambodian civilians displaced by fighting along the countries’ border.
The Foreign Ministry issued its August 1 response after Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, completed a July 20–31 visit.
Andrews visited a relocation site where about 20,000 people remained displaced by the 2025 fighting, according to the Associated Press. Residents told him they could not return to homes in territory occupied by Thai forces.
“It is imperative that Thailand and Cambodia work together to expedite the return of displaced civilians,” Andrews said. He described return as a right under international law.
Thailand said Cambodia remained responsible for protecting people displaced within its territory and providing adequate shelter, food, clean water, sanitation and essential health services.
Bangkok also challenged the classification of about 650,000 people as internally displaced.It said part of the figure included Cambodians who had lived in areas Thailand opened as temporary shelters in the late 1970s and remained after conditions improved.
A Dec. 27 ceasefire agreement requires both countries to maintain their current troop deployments without further movement. It also calls for civilians to return without obstruction and in safety and dignity to homes on their respective sides.
Thailand called for strict implementation of the ceasefire and continued engagement through bilateral mechanisms.
While saying the right of return should be upheld alongside genuine humanitarian concerns and principles, the ministry warned that it “should not be exploited for political purposes or propaganda.”
