Statement by H.E. Ms. Usana Berananda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand

to the United Nations in Geneva, in exercising the 1^st round of the right of reply

at the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council

16^th September 2026 at 18.00 hrs.

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Thank you, Mr. President.

Once again, Thailand is compelled to exercise its right of reply to the remarks made by Cambodia.

Thailand regrets the impact of the conflict on women and children and recognizes the disproportionate effect of the conflict on them. However, allow me to reiterate that women and children on both sides of the border have suffered and that protection must remain above political narratives.

What Thailand cannot accept is Cambodia's attempt to misrepresent these humanitarian consequences and attribute them to Thailand while portraying itself as the sole victim of the conflict.

Let me reiterate once again that this conflict was not initiated by Thailand, nor has it ever been in Thailand's interest.

Thai civilians, including women and children, were the very first casualties of the conflict when indiscriminate rocket fire by Cambodian forces struck civilian areas, including families in their homes and customers in a grocery store in Thai border communities on the 24 July 2025. During the conflict, five children and seven women lost their lives. Thailand's use of force was undertaken solely in the exercise of its right to self-defense to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its people.

Throughout its operation, Thailand exercised the utmost restraint, and its defensive measures were limited by necessity, proportionate to the threat faced, and directed in accordance with the principle of distinction and applicable international law.

Cambodia, on the other hand, continued to implant new anti-personnel landmines along the border, which is a clear violation of its obligations under the Ottawa Convention and will have a long-lasting humanitarian impact on civilians, particularly women and children.

The suffering of Cambodian children deserves our concern, but so does the suffering of Thai children. Humanitarian suffering cannot be selectively misrepresented to support false allegations, advance contested bilateral claims, or portray one side as the sole aggressor, while the consequences of Cambodia's initiated and indiscriminate attacks are disregarded.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Statement by H.E. Ms. Usana Berananda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand

to the United Nations in Geneva, in exercising the 2^nd round of the right of reply

at the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council

16^th September 2026 at 18.12 hrs.

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Thank you, Mr President.

Thailand regrets to take the floor once again to exercise our right of reply to the statement made by Cambodia earlier.

The allegation concerning Thailand's attack on temples and cultural sites presents a misleading picture.

The reality is that the Cambodian armed forces deliberately use these sites for military purposes, in conscious disregard of obligations under the 1954 Hague Convention and the Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. When cultural sites are intentionally used for military advantage, whether as positions, storage sites or shields, this is a clear violation that undermines their protected status. Such misuse not only violates legal obligations, it also places these sites at serious risk of damage or destruction.

Thailand's response was a legitimate act of self-defense and fully consistent with international law, grounded in the principle of necessity and proportionality. Thailand remains committed to safeguarding such sites and ensuring they are never used in a manner inconsistent with international obligations.

We also reaffirm our commitment to fully implement what our two leaders have agreed in the ceasefire agreement, and we certainly and sincerely urge Cambodia to do the same.

Thank you.