Thailand’s Lies Are No Longer Sustainable

Op-Ed: Thailand’s Lies Are No Longer Sustainable 

 

 

On 5 January 2026, the Royal Thai Navy dismissed reports of property seizures as “fake news,” yet simultaneously stated that valuables found would be “secured and returned to lawful owners.” One cannot deny a seizure while explaining how seized items will be returned. 

This contradiction alone exposes the dishonesty at the heart of Thailand’s claims. The situation is worsened by visual evidence. While Thai authorities insist they were merely “securing” Cambodian civilian property, videos filmed by Thai soldiers themselves show troops openly celebrating confiscated belongings. 

This is not professional custody—it is the language and behavior of plunder. To describe such acts as protection is an insult to public intelligence. If Thailand claims civilian property was taken into custody, where are the inventories, custody records, and clear return procedures? None have been presented. 

In any lawful operation, such documentation is mandatory. Its absence speaks volumes. The same applies to the demolition of civilian homes and farms. 

Thailand has offered no explanation of what military necessity required immediate destruction rather than securing sites pending verification, as required under international humanitarian law. Finally, Thailand repeatedly asserts that all seized areas are indisputably Thai territory. 

Where is the evidence? Where are the verified coordinates, legal instruments, and agreed maps to support this claim? Assertions without documentation are not sovereignty—they are propaganda. 

This is not a series of mistakes. It is a pattern of deception. Peace, trust, and regional stability cannot be built on endless lies. The international community must now decide whether silence will continue to reward falsehood—or whether truth still matters.  

Keo Chesda, Affiliate Researcher at the University of Cambodia