Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkaew, has taken a firm stance against a recent report issued by Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Cambodia. During a press conference, Sihasak emphasized that the report is not an official UN document but rather a report under the mandate of the UN Human Rights Council. He criticized the premature public disclosure of the report, noting that it should first be deliberated and discussed by the Council in Geneva, where Thailand plans to present its counterarguments.
According to Thai News Agency, Sihasak expressed disappointment that the report, while focusing on Cambodia, implicated Thailand in issues such as conflict and the return of Cambodian laborers without consulting Thai authorities. He accused Cambodia of using the report for political propaganda, which he argued contradicted the agreement made at the recent ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, where leaders agreed to avoid attacking each other internationally to foster trust and improve relations.
The report's accuracy was further questioned by Sihasak, who disputed claims about displaced persons. He argued that the figure of 650,000 homeless Cambodians was exaggerated and included those who had settled in Thailand decades ago. He also highlighted that the report overlooked Thailand's own losses during the conflict, including civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
Addressing the issue of migrant workers, Sihasak refuted claims that Thailand forcibly deported Cambodian workers, asserting that their return was at Cambodia's request. He also criticized Cambodia for ignoring significant issues noted by the rapporteur, such as political repression, human trafficking, and scams. Sihasak announced plans to address these concerns at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session and intends to send letters to both the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to contest the report's findings.