(Phnom Penh): Heng Ratana, Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), issued a firm clarification refuting attempts by Thailand to alter and fabricate narratives regarding war victims and destruction in Cambodia.

In his statement post on social media on Tuesday (Aug. 11), the CMAC director general presented concrete evidence to counter claims aimed at concealing intentions to malign Cambodia over United Nations Human Rights report figures citing more than 650,000 refugees.

“Thailand is striving to alter, deny, shift blame, and divert the true story by fabricating a new narrative to hide its massive hypocrisy. Their goal is to slander Cambodia regarding the figure of over 650,000 displaced war refugees mentioned in the UN Human Rights report,” he wrote.

According to Heng Ratana, 349 civilian towns and villages suffered direct impacts from cluster bomb shelling, aerial bombardment, and general munitions, accounted for 91,411 families, equivalent to 364,984 individuals. To date, CMAC completed its baseline survey on remnants of war from the Thai aggression across 335 villages, covering an area of more than 3,800 square kilometres.

Heng Ratana noted that these figures do not include the additional populations who fled their homes out of fear or were indirectly affected by residual unexploded ordnance.

In addition to civilian casualties, the CMAC director general highlighted extensive structural damage, including ancient Khmer temples, residential homes, schools, hospitals, pagodas, and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed by cluster munitions, conventional bombing, and chemical agents.

He emphasised that this evidence remains a stark record awaiting formal justice.
=FRESH NEWS