The Thai Army’s new statement accusing Cambodia of running a “fake news operation” tells you something important: this is not confidence speaking. This is pressure. Their reaction is far too large for a single allegation. They brought in the Army, Navy, multiple ministries, IO language, and warnings about international reputation. That only happens when a country feels boxed in.
Read the tone: defensive, emotional, and focused on timing. They are upset that Cambodian ministries, civil society groups, and rights organizations responded together. Thailand is used to Cambodia being fragmented. When Cambodia speaks quickly and in one voice, the Thai system panics because it cannot predict the response.
This was not about the case. It was about timing. It hit them during landmine scrutiny, border tension, ASEAN Observer involvement, and US pressure. That is why the statement tries to shift attention toward scams and landmines. Those are the issues Thailand fears most.
For Cambodians, the takeaway is simple. This is not the voice of strength. It is the voice of an institution trying to steady itself while it feels credibility slipping. When a state accuses another of coordinated “information warfare,” it means they are worried the other side is becoming too unified, too documented, and too fast for them to control the story.
Midnight