Phnom Penh:The Royal Government of Cambodia has firmly denied claims made by Thai media regarding comments attributed to Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy about the initial gunfire in the Cambodia-Thailand border clashes.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Cambodian Government Spokesperson, H.E. Pen Bona, addressed the issue following an interview aired on October 10 by Thai media outlet Top News. The interview featured Nantiwat Samart, a former deputy chief of Thailand's National Intelligence Agency, who purportedly claimed that Sam Rainsy stated Cambodian forces fired first, leading to a retaliatory response from Thailand.
The Cambodian Government has rejected these claims, emphasizing that the Thai forces were the first to open fire. This stance has been consistently communicated by the Cambodian Prime Minister, as well as the Ministries of National Defence and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The spokesperson urged Sam Rainsy to clarify his position on the matter. He outlined three possible courses of action if Sam Rainsy did not make the remarks, he should officially deny the report; if he did make the remarks, he should publicly apologize to the Cambodian people, as such statements were described as a significant betrayal; and if no denial is issued, it would imply that the remarks were indeed made as reported.
The spokesperson expressed a desire for Sam Rainsy to address and clarify the situation soon.