- Thailand’s foreign minister has told Al Jazeera that there is “no space for diplomacy” in the current conflict.
- Cambodia says Thailand’s military resumed attacks on Tuesday morning in border regions, killing at least seven people. Thailand says at least four soldiers were killed in the attacks.
- Thailand launched air attacks along its disputed border with Cambodia on Monday as the two neighbours trade blame for renewed fighting.
- Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet urges Thailand to resolve the border dispute peacefully.
How ‘fake news’ accusations have fuelled the conflict
A Thai reporter wrote on Facebook today that Thai forces had “taken back” Prasat Khnar, a temple located in disputed territory in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province.
Within half an hour, Cambodia’s Defence Ministry struck back, posting a graphic with a “FAKE NEWS” label and decrying the claim as “100 percent wrong”.
Such incidents have become common throughout the conflict. With little independent media in either country, military leaders and spokespeople have frequently accused one another of spreading fake news over supposed military wins, offensives and the use of weaponry.
In July, Pich Chanmony, wife of Cambodia’s PM, reposted several now-deleted images claiming Thailand had used “poison gas”. At least one image was also posted by a Finance Ministry official, Meas Soksensan.
Independent reporting has shown the images were lifted from Reuters coverage of the Los Angeles Palisades fire in January.
In a separate incident, the Thai military said Cambodia was spreading false information last month after authorities publicised rape accusations against a group of Thai soldiers.
Both countries’ digital landscapes have been flooded with hashtag campaigns such as #CambodiaOpenedFire and #CambodiaSelfDefend.
Experts tell Al Jazeera that such rhetoric has made the conflict more difficult to quell, with Cambodian political analyst Virak Ou describing the rise in nationalism as “dangerous”.
Photos: The aftermath of Cambodian strikes on Thailand
