The Thai Foreign Ministry has rejected the statement by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia, Tom Andrews, implying that Thailand is accountable for initiating the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in various impacts on the Cambodian people.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Thai Foreign Ministry asserted that the conflict was not initiated by Thailand, but resulted from indiscriminate attacks by the Cambodian side targeting civilian areas in Thailand.
Regarding the UN special rapporteur’s reference to the alleged 650,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cambodia, the Foreign Ministry said that a portion of the IDPs were Cambodians residing on Thai territory, previously opened up to provide them with temporary shelters as part of the humanitarian assistance program in the late 1970s.
When the situation in Cambodia subsequently improved, however, these Cambodians did not return to their country, despite repeated protests made by Thailand to Cambodia. Therefore, these people do not fall within the definition of IDPs, claimed the Foreign Ministry.
It also said that the right of return should not be exploited for political purposes or propaganda, but upheld alongside genuine humanitarian concerns and principles.
The Cambodian government, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry, has the responsibility to care for its citizens affected by the conflict, resulting in internal displacement within Cambodia.
The Cambodian government also has an obligation to ensure that these people, especially the vulnerable, have access to adequate shelter, standard of living, food, clean water, sanitation and essential public health services, according to the statement.
The Thai Foreign Ministry also questioned the UN special rapporteur’s claim of 900,000 Cambodian migrant workers returning to Cambodia from Thailand, noting that this figure included both documented and undocumented workers who returned to Cambodia voluntarily at the urging of the Cambodian government.
Thailand has never had a policy to expel these migrant workers, the Thai Foreign Ministry said, adding that Thailand is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights as well as respect for international humanitarian law.
Thailand has consistently followed the Special Procedures mechanism, under the UN Human Rights Council, and has already provided relevant explanations.
The Thai Foreign Ministry stated that the Special Procedures should uphold the principles of independence, impartiality and objectivity, while taking into account information from credible and verifiable sources, as well as facts and perspectives from all sides, in a comprehensive and fair manner.
“This is essential to ensuring that human rights assessments are balanced and consistent with the mandates of the Special Procedures,” according to the statement.
Thailand is ready to rebuild relations with Cambodia, but such efforts require genuine and sincere cooperation from Cambodia, said the statement.
