Bangkok: "Rome" has cautioned against falling for the tactics employed by Cambodians who are creating content by filming clashes with Thai soldiers. These actions are perceived as attempts by Cambodia to portray Thailand as an aggressor, likening the situation to a scenario where "when elephants fight, the grass will be torn apart."
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Rangsiman Rome, an MP for the party list and deputy leader of the Prachachon Party, who also serves as chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on State Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy and Reform, provided insights into the situation. He commented on a recent incident involving Cambodian soldiers recording a clash with Thai soldiers at a temple. Mr. Rome acknowledged that while recording is permissible, the manner in which it was conducted raised concerns. He referenced a previous clash where Cambodia attempted to utilize the United Nations (UN) mechanism to cast Thailand in a negative light, portraying it as a bully and disrupting the peace. Mr. Rome emphasized the importance of Thailand not falling into this narrative and warned against the issue escalating to the International Court of Justice. He expressed confidence that involvement with the court is currently not feasible and highlighted the importance of maintaining the issue as a governmen tal dispute rather than a national one.
Mr. Rome also addressed the lack of conflict between the people of Thailand and Cambodia, noting that both nations are interested in business collaboration. He described the ongoing conflict as a situation where "elephants fight and grass is torn apart," indicating that the people are caught in a struggle between governments. He expressed a desire to see trade resume between the two countries, which has been hindered by the closure of the border by the Cambodian side. In contrast, Thailand has kept its borders open, managing issues such as the call center gang problem. Mr. Rome clarified that misunderstandings exist, such as the belief that Thailand initiated the border closure, which he attributes to misinformation.