Thailand Rejects UN Rapporteur Tom Andrews’ Cambodia Statement and Plans Formal Protest

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally rejected portions of an end-of-mission statement by Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, and announced plans to lodge a formal protest with UN bodies in Geneva.

In a statement dated 1 August 2026, the ministry addressed Andrews’ remarks following his official visit to Cambodia from 20 to 31 July 2026. The visit included meetings with government officials, civil society and visits to border areas affected by earlier fighting between the two countries. Andrews held a press conference in Phnom Penh on 31 July in which he raised concerns about displacement linked to the border situation, among other human rights issues (mfa.go.th).

According to reporting of the briefing, Andrews stated that approximately 650,000 Cambodian civilians were displaced in border regions by the end of 2025, with more than 20,000 still unable to return home, and referred to some areas as occupied by Thai troops. He also cited around 900,000 Cambodian migrant workers who had returned from Thailand and urged both governments to facilitate the safe return of displaced civilians in line with international law (reuters.com; bangkokpost.com).

Thailand’s response stated that the conflict “was not initiated by Thailand, but resulted from indiscriminate attacks by the Cambodian side targeting civilian areas in Thailand.” On the displacement figure, the ministry said a portion of those counted were Cambodians who had remained in areas Thailand opened as temporary shelters in the late 1970s and who did not return despite Thai requests; it argued these individuals do not meet the definition of internally displaced persons. It added that the Cambodian government bears primary responsibility for protecting its own citizens affected by internal displacement (mfa.go.th; thailand.prd.go.th).

Regarding migrant workers, Thailand said the returns included both documented and undocumented workers who left voluntarily after calls by the Cambodian government, and that Bangkok had never maintained a policy of expulsion. The ministry reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to human rights and international humanitarian law, noting prior cooperation with UN special procedures (khaosodenglish.com).

On 3 August 2026, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow confirmed that Thailand would dispatch formal protest letters to the president of the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. He described Andrews’ public statement as an individual expert assessment that had not yet undergone the official Human Rights Council review process, during which member states can contest points. Sihasak, a former UNHRC president, criticised the timing of the press conference and called for strict impartiality and verification with all affected parties. He also expressed concern that Cambodia was selectively using elements of the statement for political purposes, contrary to bilateral understandings (nationthailand.com).

Thailand said it remains ready to rebuild relations with Cambodia through full implementation of their 27 December 2025 Joint Statement, reduction of tensions and peaceful bilateral mechanisms. It further indicated it would raise transnational cyber-scam networks and related crimes at the next Human Rights Council session. Cambodian officials, in turn, criticised Thailand’s response as an attempt to undermine the rapporteur’s independence rather than address humanitarian concerns (khmertimeskh.com).

Andrews is scheduled to present a full report to the Human Rights Council in October 2026. The special rapporteur’s mandate covers the human rights situation in Cambodia, including issues related to the border conflict (ohchr.org).