Phnom penh: The Spokesperson of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia has strongly refuted allegations made by The Nation newspaper of Thailand about the Cambodian parliamentary delegation’s activities at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly. The Senate underscored Cambodia’s respect for free and responsible journalism while emphasizing that press freedom does not equate to the liberty to fabricate information.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Cambodian Senate expressed disappointment over The Nation’s article titled ‘Khuon Sudary outpaces Wan Muhamad Noor Matha in Hungary for peace agreement discussions,’ published on 29 October 2025. The Senate labeled the article as misleading and inaccurate, accusing The Nation of either misunderstanding or intentionally misrepresenting the IPU Assembly’s official proceedings.
The Senate clarified that the IPU resolution discussed was not a “Thai resolution,” as claimed by The Nation. Instead, it was a collaborative effort by several countries, in
cluding Thailand, Argentina, Chile, Poland, and Sweden, aimed at addressing global issues like transnational crimes and cybercrimes. The Cambodian delegation played an active role in drafting this resolution, which was intended to benefit all participating countries.
Furthermore, the Senate contested The Nation’s assertions that Cambodia attempted to block the resolution or influence committee memberships, highlighting Cambodia’s constructive and transparent involvement in the IPU proceedings. The Cambodian delegation’s actions were in full compliance with IPU procedures and had the consensus of the Asia-Pacific Group.
The Senate also disputed claims about Cambodia’s meeting with IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong, reiterating that the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation and addressing the negative effects of fake news and media distortion. The Cambodian delegation did not propose any meeting with the Thai delegation, as there was no relevant agenda or mandate for such discussions.
The Cambodian Se
nate criticized The Nation for spreading disinformation, which undermines the values of truth, dialogue, and peace-values that Cambodia and Thailand committed to in the Joint Declaration signed on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur.
The Senate concluded by reaffirming Cambodia’s commitment to truth, mutual respect, and regional peace and cooperation, while emphasizing that press freedom should not be a cover for spreading false information.