Press Briefing – Update on the implementation of the immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand

Press Briefing – Update on the implementation of the immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand

7:00 AM, August 22, 2025

Intervention by H.E. Pen Bona, Royal Government Spokesperson:

Due to the recent times, a wave of fake news has emerged, accompanied by the use of psychological warfare with the intention of misleading our citizens. Therefore, as the spokesperson of the Royal Government, I would like to highlight several important points for our compatriots to be aware of, as follows:

1. Fake news remains a strategic weapon, which is increasingly employed to undermine the strong unity of the Khmer nation. Many fake Facebook accounts have been created—some even bearing Khmer names—yet, in reality, the account holders are not Khmer. They post fabricated content, with some information entirely invented, while other news items or video clips are taken from foreign sources or from old footage that conveniently fits the current situation. Therefore, they then manipulate these materials with new misleading captions or deceptive commentary to make them appear as if they are recent events. Afterward, certain MMO groups, especially some extremist opposition groups abroad, act as agents to further spread such false information. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to produce fabricated video clips has also become increasingly common.

Please, let us remember clearly that their goal is not to serve the interests of the Khmer people. On the contrary, they are trying to poison the minds of our citizens, erode faith in themselves and the Royal Government, and fragment the Khmer national solidarity into pieces, which weakens the Khmer people. Therefore, I urge all our compatriots to stay vigilant. We must be able to discern clearly who are truly helping the Khmer people working for the benefit of the nation and who are those betraying their own people—handing over the sword to others to destroy each other in this difficult time—so that we do not lose sight of the real battlefield.

2. Psychological warfare is frequently employed through the rhetoric of Thai officials and their media outlets, which broadcast unprovable false information. These incidents happen daily, yet Cambodian citizens remain resilient and do not succumb to these tactics. Instead, our community actively challenges this misinformation, causing it to lose its impact quickly. However, I need to reiterate this issue to raise awareness among all Cambodians. We must remain vigilant and avoid letting false narratives pollute our minds.

3. I urge all Cambodian citizens to remember that the most effective defense against these psychological warfare tactics, as well as to win the diplomatic battle we are going through, is continuing to be patient and maintain composure in our hearts, fully respecting the ceasefire agreement, not getting tangled up in their tricks, and trusting the Royal Government and our military leadership, who are solving the problem wisely, based on the spirit of peace as the guiding principle.

In the meantime, please take the time to verify information by asking critical questions: Is this true? Where did it originate? Is the source reliable? And is the account that posted it trustworthy? Just taking a little time to research is understandable. If you discover that the information is fake or from an unreliable source, please respond immediately to neutralize the fake information. This is a shared responsibility that we must do together regularly and do very actively and enthusiastically without giving up.

Thank you.