Bangkok: The Royal Thai Army’s Commander-in-Chief has strongly refuted recent claims that the Second Army Region Commander ordered the collection of bodies of Cambodian soldiers, emphasizing that the information is entirely false. Both the National Security Council (NSCC) and other relevant authorities have dismissed these allegations as baseless.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, a member of the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Administration (CBSA), addressed the ongoing circulation of fake news originating from Cambodia. He highlighted a misleading message claiming that Lt. Gen. Boonsin Phadklang, Commander of the Second Army Region, instructed troops to collect the bodies of Cambodians near the border. Mr. Jirayu confirmed that this information is incorrect and urged the public to disregard it. The Second Army Region Commander clarified that the Thai military is not responsible for the deceased Cambodian soldiers and called on Cambodian leaders to retrieve their soldiers’ bodies for appropriate religious rites, warning against leaving them uncollected.

Mr. Jirayu also noted that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) identified ongoing dissemination of fake news related to Thai-Cambodian security issues in its weekly report. Such news has been causing panic and confusion among the public. He stressed the importance of verifying news before sharing it, as the dissemination of false information is punishable under Section 14 of the Computer Crimes Act, which can result in up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.

The government is urging the public to be vigilant against fake news, particularly those originating from Cambodia, which may lead to misunderstandings and broader impacts on national security. Mr. Jirayu encouraged the public to verify news sources and report any fake news or online crimes through the 1111 hotline, available 24 hours a day.