Recent diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been marked by significant tension and accusations, prompting firm responses and potential legal actions from the Thai side. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has unequivocally rejected claims circulating on social media, initially cited by Cambodia’s Minister of Information, which alleged that Thailand was orchestrating a plan to assassinate Cambodian leaders Hun Sen and Hun Manet. Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strongly denounced these accusations as entirely unfounded and explicitly designed to defame Thailand. He emphasized that the dissemination of such false news, particularly during ongoing General Border Committee (GBC) discussions, not only serves no constructive purpose but actively undermines the spirit of dialogue aimed at achieving peaceful resolutions. The Ministry condemned this disinformation as a harmful attempt to derail the important diplomatic efforts between the two nations.

In addition to refuting assassination claims, Thailand has also taken diplomatic action regarding incidents involving landmines, which were described as a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention on landmines. This particular incident occurred just two days after a crucial General Border Committee meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, during which Cambodia reportedly rejected a Thai proposal for both countries to collaborate on clearing landmines along their shared border. In response to these violations, Thailand has initiated significant diplomatic protests. Thailand’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has formally communicated a letter of protest to the chair of the Ottawa Convention. Furthermore, Thailand’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York has met with both the chair of the Ottawa Convention and the UN secretary-general, specifically requesting action against Cambodia for its alleged breaches of the treaty.

The escalation of tensions has also led to discussions within Thailand regarding severe legal repercussions for Cambodian leaders. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated on Tuesday that academics are considering submitting a formal proposal to the Thai government. This proposal would advocate for suing Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, Hun Sen, in the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes. Phumtham affirmed that should such a proposal be officially submitted, he would direct the government's legal experts to thoroughly review it. This potential international legal action stems from a resolution by the National Security Council (NSC) to file both criminal and civil lawsuits against Hun Manet and Hun Sen in Thai courts. These lawsuits would accuse the Cambodian leaders of causing deaths and injuries to Thai citizens, as well as damaging assets, through their alleged orders for Cambodian troops to fire at Thai civilians, thereby highlighting the gravity of the accusations and the multi-faceted nature of Thailand's response to the ongoing disputes.