Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) On February 24, 2026, His Excellency Sihasak Puangkchou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, issued a statement at the High-Level Meeting of the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council held at the Palais des Nations headquarters in Geneva. The statement focused on two core issues: the governance of transnational online fraud and the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border, clearly outlining Thailand's position.
The statement began with Minister Sihasak recalling his experience as President of the Human Rights Council more than a decade ago, during a crucial phase of the Council's institutional review. He emphasized that multilateralism is currently facing challenges, and countries need to work together to ensure the efficient and orderly operation of the Human Rights Council. Regarding the issue of transnational online fraud, the Minister pointed out that its essence is a global human rights crisis, rooted in the lack of rule of law in the countries involved. As one of the most affected countries and a pioneer in the international fight against this crime, Thailand will continue to promote global cooperation to jointly curb the spread of criminal networks.
The Thai Foreign Minister also gave a strong response to the statement made by the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the meeting regarding the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border. He refuted Cambodia's accusations and distortions of facts to smear Thailand's image, stating that the root cause of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict lies in Cambodia's years of continuous aggression and repeated provocations, including interference in Thailand's internal affairs, which ultimately led to indiscriminate attacks and civilian casualties—a tragedy in the bilateral relationship.
The minister further clarified that historically, Thailand has always maintained goodwill towards Cambodia: providing shelter to Cambodian civilians fleeing conflict and actively supporting humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts after the Cambodian civil war. Thailand has never sought confrontation with Cambodia and deeply understands the shared destiny of the two countries. However, after the ceasefire agreement took effect, Cambodia failed to work with Thailand to rebuild mutual trust and promote good neighborliness; instead, it internationalized the border issue, seriously undermining the prospects for a peaceful resolution.
Regarding Cambodia's accusation of "Thailand's occupation of territory," the Thai Foreign Minister explicitly refuted it, emphasizing that both sides had reached a consensus through negotiations: during the ceasefire, both countries' troops should remain stationed in their current positions, awaiting a final resolution of differences through dialogue. However, to date, Cambodia's provocative actions have not ceased, Thai soldiers still face the threat of landmines, and occasional clashes occur in the border area. The minister reiterated that Thailand is committed to resolving disputes through dialogue, but also bears the responsibility of "defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs," and once again questioned Cambodia: whether it chooses the path of peace or continues toward tension and conflict.
