Bangkok: The Director of the Joint International Commission (JIC) has issued a strong response to accusations of war crimes against Thailand, questioning Cambodia about the firing of BM-21 rockets. He emphasized that war crimes are serious allegations that require thorough investigation and evidence. Air Chief Marshal Praphas Sonjaidee, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Situation and Director of the Thai-Cambodian Situation Information Center (JIC), addressed the Cambodian media's portrayal of Thai soldiers' actions as potential war crimes, stressing that such claims must be substantiated with facts.
According to Thai News Agency, Air Chief Marshal Praphas highlighted the importance of applying uniform standards in any investigation of violations of international humanitarian law. He noted that Thailand possesses evidence of BM-21 rockets being fired from Cambodian territory into Thai civilian areas, including an incident on December 14, 2025, in Kantaralak District, Sisaket Province, which resulted in one civilian death and several injuries. He posed questions regarding the source, location, and target of these rocket attacks, underscoring the necessity for objective investigation.
The JIC Director clarified that determining whether an event is a war crime lies with legal authorities, not the JIC. He emphasized the principles of international humanitarian law, which mandate the distinction between civilian and military targets to safeguard civilians. He asserted that the use of weapons like the BM-21, with wide-ranging impact, necessitates serious investigation under international law.
Air Chief Marshal Praphas reiterated Thailand's commitment to the principles of Necessity, Proportionality, and Distinction. He assured that Thailand is prepared to present evidence, including event sequences, impact points, photographs, technical data, witness statements, and physical evidence, to substantiate its claims. He insisted that Thailand is open to impartial scrutiny and urged the international community to apply the same standards to all parties involved.
Thailand has previously informed the diplomatic corps about the events of December 7-8, 2025, when Cambodia reportedly fired BM-21 missiles into civilian areas, prompting Thailand's self-defense response. The JIC Director stressed the need for comprehensive examination of evidence from all sides, urging against judgments based solely on headlines or images.
In his concluding remarks, Air Chief Marshal Praphas emphasized that legal judgments should be based on evidence, not media portrayals, and called for fair and thorough investigation of all parties involved in the conflict.