AKP Phnom Penh, August 06, 2025 -- H.E. Pen Bona, Head of the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit, has accused Thailand of repeatedly using manipulative tactics to mislead both its own people and the international community regarding the recent armed conflict with Cambodia.

Speaking today, H.E. Pen Bona referred to an old Khmer expression, "the monkey eats the rice and smears it on the goat’s mouth," to describe what he called Thailand’s consistent attempts to shift blame onto Cambodia.

He elaborated: “They (Thailand) invaded because they desired our land and our temples, yet they lied to their own citizens and to the international community, claiming that it was Cambodia who had invaded their territory and wanted their temples. They provoked us in every possible way, then turned around and accused Cambodia of being the provocateur. They launched the first armed attacks as part of a premeditated operation, yet claimed that Cambodia had fired the first shot. They violated the ceasefire and deliberately worked to undermine it, while Cambodia made every effort to uphold it faithfully. Despite this, they accused Cambodia of breaching the ceasefire and even announced that they had evidence and were preparing to file a complaint with the international community.”

“They fabricate all kinds of falsehoods and spread lies, yet accuse Cambodia of creating and disseminating disinformation. This is a clear example of the tactic we Cambodians call ‘the monkey eats the rice and then smears it on the goat’s mouth’— which results in the innocent goat ends up being punished without even knowing why. Thailand’s actions are a deliberate attempt to manipulate the narrative—painting Cambodia as the aggressor and rallying international condemnation, while portraying itself as the innocent victim.”

According to H.E. Pen Bona, there are significant and logical reasons for both national and international public opinion to accurately understand the realities of this conflict.

First, Cambodia is a small country with a modest population and a weaker economy compared to Thailand. Consequently, there is no justification for Cambodia to launch an armed attack on Thailand, especially given Thailand's larger population, more robust military, and advanced weaponry.

Second, in the event of armed conflict, Cambodia exercises its legitimate right to self-defence and the protection of its territorial integrity. In stark contrast, Thailand deploys a wide range of military capabilities—including fighter jets, tanks, artillery, drones, cluster bombs, and even poison gas— and relies on overwhelming and excessive force to carry out its invasions.

Third, Cambodia is a peace-loving nation that upholds international law. In times of conflict, Cambodia welcomes international engagement and seeks peaceful resolutions based on the principles of international law. Thailand, on the other hand, has consistently refused to engage with the international community or to accept and adhere to international legal standard.

Given the actual circumstances and the intentions of both Cambodia and Thailand, national and international public opinion clearly recognises Cambodia’s sincere commitment to peace and its adherence to international law. Consequently, Thailand’s deceptive propaganda is rendered ineffective.
 
“In conclusion, the best course of action for both Cambodia and Thailand are to uphold the ceasefire agreement and restore normalcy for the benefit of both nations and their peoples,” said the government spokesperson. 

By C. Nika