Thailand slams Cambodia for ‘shameful’ use of children in border tensions

Thailand has condemned Cambodia’s exploitation of civilians, especially children, to incite tension and as human shields, as seen in video content circulated on many social media platforms, Maratee Andamo, spokesperson for the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Centre, said today.

“The actions are not only shameful but also devalue the humanity of children, who should be protected rather than pushed to the frontlines to face the consequences on behalf of adults,” she said.

She was referring to a video clip, produced by controversial online creator Michael Alfero, featuring him seated between a young boy and a young girl, with a landmine placed on the table.

Alfero encouraged the children to condemn the Thai Army, claiming it had laid the landmines. He claimed that, while Thailand accuses others, it is responsible for laying the mines and that Cambodians were the ones who stepped on them. One of the children said that Thailand should condemn itself, not Cambodia.

During the talk, Alfero picked up the landmine to show it to the children and the audience.

Maratee stressed that this was not the first time such staged acts have taken place, in which vulnerable groups were made to take part in the propaganda war.

She cited incidents in which Cambodian civilians, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities, were used to stage noisy protests in front of barbed-wire barriers, set up by the Thai Army, including in Ban Nong Chan in Sa Kaeo province.

These incidents, she said, clearly reflect Cambodia’s total lack of responsibility.

She also stated that Thailand remains committed to protecting the rights of children and women on the international stage.

Such acts are unacceptable, she said, because they contravene fundamental principles and run counter to the best interests of the child, which form the core of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and several other human rights obligations.

Thailand is closely monitoring the matter and will act through treaty mechanisms to urge the international community to demand an end to such exploitation.