Exposing the Deception of “Playing the Victim” by the Cambodian Government

04 August 2568
Adisorn Suksomat

In the border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, there have been discussions about the Cambodian government’s role in distorting the situation, portraying itself as the victim of Thai aggression — a tactic known as Playing the Victim.

Playing the Victim refers to exaggerating or fabricating a sense of victimhood for various purposes, such as justifying inappropriate actions against others, manipulating or deceiving others, coping with difficult situations, seeking attention, or avoiding responsibility.

Those who repeatedly engage in this behavior are often referred to as Professional Victims.

In contrast, a true victim is someone who suffers injury, damage, death, or distress due to the actions of others, illness, or misfortune.

When Used for Abuse

The aim of playing the victim for abusive purposes is to dehumanize the opposing party — for instance, diverting attention from one’s abusive actions by claiming they are justified because of the other party’s bad behavior.

This tactic also paves the way for controlling third-party perception — i.e., gaining sympathy to recruit others into supporting or participating in further abuse, a strategy known as Proxy Abuse.

Abusers often use the Playing the Victim strategy for two main reasons:

To justify their actions.

To legitimize the beliefs and actions of their supporters, helping them avoid criticism or accountability.

When Used for Manipulation

Manipulative individuals often portray themselves as victims — making themselves appear to be suffering due to others’ behavior or external circumstances. The goal is to gain sympathy, pity, or kindness from others, and ultimately, to exploit them.

This is especially effective on compassionate people or those prone to guilt, who are easy targets.

Although this tactic might succeed in the short term, it tends to lose effectiveness in the long run.

3 Ways to Identify a Fake Victim

Psychology Today, outlines key differences between real victims and those who fake victimhood:

Real victims are open to advice and respond positively to empathy.

Fake victims seek attention, induce guilt, and avoid responsibility — often manipulating others through their feigned helplessness.

Three common behaviors of fake victims:

• They Talk Only About Themselves

Fake victims are self-centered. Their conversations are usually one-sided, with the intention of controlling others.

Example by the Cambodian Government:

Blaming Thailand exclusively without listening to any clarifications or engaging in dialogue.

• They Use Their Suffering to Make Others Feel Guilty

They display vulnerability or suffering as a strategy to induce guilt and receive unnecessary support. For example, pretending to be sick to avoid work and passing the burden to coworkers.

Example by the Cambodian Government:

Claiming Cambodia is too poor to invade Thailand, and therefore portraying itself as the weaker nation being bullied — despite clear evidence that Cambodia was the one who first encroached on Thai territory.

• They Use the Past to Avoid Present Responsibility

They bring up past traumas or grievances to justify avoiding accountability for present actions. For instance, fabricating workplace issues as an excuse for cheating on a partner.

Example by the Cambodian Government:

Accusing Thailand of historically stealing Khmer culture, citing ancient Khom-style temples along the border — even though ancient Khom civilization was a shared cultural heritage in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the location of historical sites does not determine modern national boundaries.

#TruthFromThailand

Reference information :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_the_victim
https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/cambodian-propaganda-playing-the-victim-to-get-away-with-murder/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/peaceful-parenting/202211/3-ways-tell-when-someone-is-playing-the-victim