Thailand and Cambodia are currently embroiled in multifaceted tensions, ranging from serious allegations of assassination plots to persistent border disputes involving landmines and alleged encroachment. The diplomatic landscape is fraught with accusations and denials, while efforts are underway to observe and address the humanitarian impact of the conflict.

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently rejected recent claims, circulated on social media and cited by Cambodia's Minister of Information, that Thailand was planning to assassinate Cambodian leaders Hun Sen and Hun Manet. Spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura condemned these "entirely unfounded" accusations as a deliberate attempt to defame Thailand and undermine ongoing General Border Committee (GBC) discussions aimed at peaceful resolution. Balankura emphasized that spreading false news during such crucial talks serves no constructive purpose and harms the spirit of dialogue.

Adding to the complexity, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) is leading an ASEAN Interim Observation Team (IOT) to the Thai-Cambodian border from Monday to Wednesday. This mission aims to monitor alleged breaches of international law and ceasefire conditions by Cambodian troops. The IOT visit follows earlier trips organized by the Thai government for international governments and organizations. On Saturday, ASEAN envoys and representatives from countries that ratified the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines, visited Si Sa Ket province. During their visit, envoys reportedly witnessed evidence of anti-personnel mines allegedly laid by Cambodian troops and spoke directly with affected residents. Jirayu Houngsub, government spokesman, stated the Thai government believed these envoys would report their findings to their respective governments and raise the issue with the international community.

In coordination with the Foreign and Interior Ministries, the RTA also facilitated a visit by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC assessed the humanitarian impact of cross-border attacks on civilians in Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, interviewing local residents in affected districts. Jirayu highlighted this visit as a demonstration of Thailand’s commitment to working with the ICRC to strengthen humanitarian protection mechanisms. The ICRC gathered facts on the ground and will compile a confidential report on the humanitarian impact of the conflict, submitting it directly to both Thailand and Cambodia without making its findings public.

The heightened tensions have also manifested in a surge of disinformation. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) reported that eight out of the ten top fake news items last week were false reports related to the Thai-Cambodian border conflict. Wethang Puangsup, secretary-general and spokesman for the DES Ministry, noted that the top three fake news items, along with five others lower in the rankings, all concerned the border situation, underscoring the prevalence of misinformation.

Further escalating the dispute, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said that academics may submit a proposal to the government to consider suing Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, Hun Sen, in the International Criminal Court (ICC) as war criminals. This consideration follows 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 allege that the Cambodian leaders caused deaths and injuries to Thais, as well as damaging assets, by ordering Cambodian troops to fire at Thai civilians.

The issue of alleged Cambodian encroachment on Thai soil at Ban Nong Chan village in Sa Kaeo also remains a point of contention. Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub stated that Ban Nong Chan, originally a temporary shelter for Cambodians fleeing civil war in 1977, was later exploited by Cambodia to establish a community and encroach on Thai soil, with refugees refusing to return home. Jirayu accused the Cambodian government of using its citizens as a "human wall" to provoke border tensions. He explained that Thailand had erected razor wire within its own boundaries to protect its territory from further encroachment and from attacks by Cambodian troops, who had laid landmines. Jirayu insisted that the installation of razor wire did not violate the conditions agreed upon during the General Border Committee’s meeting on August 7, which resolved that neither side would construct any structures outside their territories.