Bangkok: The Thai director of the Joint Operations Centre (JIC) has defended Thailand's actions in response to accusations from Cambodia, questioning, "Who started using weapons first?" and emphasizing that Thailand reserves the right to defend itself when threatened.
According to Thai News Agency, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force refuted allegations from Cambodia, insisting that Thailand has the right to self-defense, especially after BM-21 missiles impacted Thai civilians. He urged Cambodia to review the joint statement from December 27, 2025, before making claims based on the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding.
Air Chief Marshal Praphas Sonjaidee, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force and Director of the Joint Information Center for the Thai-Cambodian Situation (JIC), responded to accusations by the Cambodian Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Cambodia had alleged that Thailand acted as the aggressor, disrespecting the 2000 MOU and using heavy weapons in a brutal manner. Air Chief Marshal Praphas countered that the international community is aware of the situation's realities.
He emphasized the importance of discussing serious allegations based on facts, events, and evidence rather than repeating narratives that could be misconstrued as truth. He stated that accusations of "aggression," "cruelty," "barbarism," or "inhumanity" against Thailand must be substantiated with evidence, detailing who initiated the attacks and the sequence of events leading to them.
Air Chief Marshal Praphas stressed that Thailand does not seek conflict and has no aggressive intentions toward neighboring countries. However, he noted that attacks on Thai forces, including BM-21 rocket impacts on civilian areas resulting in casualties, are documented incidents that must be acknowledged. He asserted that Thailand's use of force is solely for self-defense and protection of its people, personnel, and sovereignty, not to harm Cambodians.
The JIC director called on Cambodia to revisit the December 27, 2025, joint statement, which aims to de-escalate tensions and maintain ceasefire conditions. The statement advises that forces should remain in their positions without being moved to gain military advantage post-ceasefire.
Regarding accusations of disrespecting the 2000 MOU, Air Chief Marshal Praphas challenged Cambodia to provide evidence. He argued that unilateral declarations of territorial sovereignty without bilateral agreement do not hold. Instead, disagreements should be addressed through mutually agreed mechanisms.
Air Chief Marshal Praphas cautioned against using civilian casualties in information warfare, expressing regret over all losses of life but warning against leveraging these to support one-sided narratives. He posed essential questions to the international community about the initiation and impact of weapons used in the conflict.
He criticized the notion that the international community inherently knows who is right or wrong, stating that truth is not determined by volume of accusations or social media statements. He called for an end to provocations both on the ground and in media, emphasizing that Thailand and Cambodia remain neighbors.
Air Chief Marshal Praphas questioned Cambodia's sincerity in negotiations, pointing out the contradiction in accusing Thailand of aggression while purportedly seeking peaceful resolutions. Thailand maintains that a genuine ceasefire, adherence to troop deployment agreements, cessation of provocations, and factual discourse are prerequisites for productive discussions.
Thailand reaffirms its commitment to peace without having to accept baseless accusations. Air Chief Marshal Praphas concluded that Thailand will protect its people, military, and sovereignty when threatened while striving for peace.