Cambodia's Minister of Information, Neth Pheaktra, has reiterated his view that the rival narratives surrounding the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute must be judged against hard evidence and international law. In his assessment, neither media messaging nor the deployment of troops can settle the question of rightful sovereignty.

Pheaktra pointed to a lesson he credited to the late Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, a figure with deep experience in diplomacy and in handling the border tensions with Thailand. He recalled Sok An once remarking that Thai diplomats had the skill to make "an elephant look like a mosquito, and a mosquito look like an elephant."

According to the minister, the comment was meant to highlight how the framing of events and the words chosen to describe them can influence both domestic and global opinion. He was careful to note that this was an observation about communication tactics, not a blanket verdict on Thai diplomats as individuals.

"A serious mistake can be made to look insignificant, while a small incident can be magnified into a major issue," Pheaktra wrote in a post on social media.

Allegations over conditions on the ground

Applying that reasoning to the ongoing dispute, Pheaktra claimed that Thai forces had seized positions inside Cambodian territory, put up razor wire and shipping-container barriers, and sought to establish a fait accompli by altering the situation on the ground. He said Cambodia has filed several diplomatic protests and keeps a file of supporting evidence for its position.

Thailand has denied Cambodia's accusations of unlawful occupation. In a statement addressing the border situation, the Thai foreign ministry said that keeping troops in place after the ceasefire was consistent with agreed arrangements and should not be seen as an occupation.

Thailand has separately alleged that Cambodia planted new landmines along the frontier, a claim the Cambodian side rejects. Pheaktra pushed back against Thailand's focus on mine blasts that wounded Thai soldiers, arguing that Bangkok was using those events to divert attention from destruction Cambodia blames on Thai aircraft munitions, including MK-82 and MK-84 bombs, and from Cambodia's claims of territorial encroachment.

A call to weigh evidence

Citing Sok An's earlier work on the Preah Vihear case, Pheaktra said that historical records, documented proof, international law and peaceful dispute-resolution mechanisms remained central to reaching a settlement. He encouraged the public to separate assertions about what happened from the evidence needed to confirm it.

"Words can change perceptions, but they cannot change the truth," he wrote. "The truth must be established by evidence, and borders must be determined by law, not by propaganda or military force."