PHNOM PENH: The Spokesperson for the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia issued an official statement on the evening of October 29, 2025, to express strong disappointment regarding the continued publication of fabricated and misleading information by Thailand’s The Nation newspaper.
This disappointment is specifically directed at the newspaper’s article published on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, titled “Madam Khoun Sudary Takes Lead over Wan Muhammad Noor Matha in Hungary for Peace Accord Talks,” concerning the activities of the Cambodian Senate delegation at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly.
The Senate Spokesperson emphasized that the article not only distorts the facts but also demonstrates either a lack of understanding or deliberate misinterpretation of the IPU’s official procedures and documents.
The Cambodian Senate’s Five-Point Response
The Cambodian Senate Spokesperson hereby responds to the false accusations made by The Nation newspaper of Thailand with the following five points:
1. Clarification on the IPU Resolution as a Joint Initiative
It is deeply regrettable that The Nation has once again labeled the recently adopted IPU resolution as a “Thai Resolution.” In reality, the resolution on “Parliamentary action to counter cross-border crimes, cybercrime, and threats in all forms to democracy and human security” was jointly initiated by multiple countries, including Thailand, Argentina, Chile, Poland, and Sweden, with support from regional groups. Given this, all countries involved in drafting the resolution, including Cambodia, can clearly discern the malicious intent behind The Nation’s misleading reports. This flawed interpretation suggests the author either misunderstands the official text of the resolution or deliberately distorts its meaning to confuse readers, raising suspicion about whether The Nation’s reports stem from poor English comprehension or an intentional effort to falsify facts.
2. Affirmation of Cambodia’s Constructive and Transparent Role
Contrary to The Nation’s assertion that Cambodia attempted to block the resolution or control committee membership, the records of the IPU proceedings clearly demonstrate Cambodia’s constructive and transparent participation. Cambodia fully complied with IPU procedures and received unanimous consensus from the Asia-Pacific regional group. The Cambodian delegation acted professionally and sincerely, collaborating with all partners to strengthen the global collective response to cybercrime and online fraud.
3. Clarification on the Meeting with the IPU Secretary-General
The Nation’s mention of a meeting between the Cambodian delegation and Mr. Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary-General, creates confusion. The meeting did take place, focusing on strengthening cooperation between the IPU and the Cambodian Parliament, as well as addressing the negative impact of fake news and media distortions—specifically, the irresponsible reporting that The Nation continues to publish. To reiterate, the Cambodian delegation never requested any meeting with the Thai delegation, as there was nothing to discuss, nor was there any mandate to hold such discussions.
4. Undermining the Values of Peace and Truth
Through its continued publication of false information, The Nation newspaper undermines the values of truth, dialogue, and peace that both Cambodia and Thailand profess to uphold, as demonstrated by the joint declaration signed between the two countries on October 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur.
5. Commitment to Responsible Press Freedom
Cambodia values a free and responsible press, but freedom of the press does not equate to the freedom to fabricate stories. The Delegation of the Kingdom of Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to truth, mutual respect, and regional peace and cooperation.