BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Army (RTA) on Sunday denied rumours on social media claiming it had ordered the evacuation of residents in Surin province in preparation for an attack on Cambodia.
RTA spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree refuted the claims, which he said originated from a social media post allegedly shared by former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, citing a statement attributed to Cambodia’s Defence Ministry spokesperson.
Winthai said the post falsely alleged that the Thai army had ordered a nighttime evacuation of civilians and was preparing to launch an offensive against Cambodia.
He confirmed there was no truth to the allegations and stated unequivocally that no evacuation orders had been issued in Surin or any other area.
“The public is urged to rely on official information sources and not be misled by unverified posts or disinformation that could cause public panic,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
He said that while the Royal Thai Army remains fully committed to the current ceasefire agreement, Thailand continues to maintain operational readiness to respond to any unforeseen developments.
Thai and Cambodian defence ministers are scheduled to hold the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 4 to 7, following a ceasefire deal brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 28.
The two neighbouring countries have been in conflict over their 817km border, with disputes dating back to 1907.
The latest conflict began with a brief skirmish between Thai and Cambodian troops on May 28, which escalated into armed clashes on July 24.
– BERNAMA
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
