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Pen Bona Demands Sam Rainsy Clarify Reported Remarks on Who Fired First at Thai Border

Terry Felix​​​​   On October 13, 2026 - 4:12 am​   In Asia Pacific   2mn Read
Pen Bona Demands Sam Rainsy Clarify Reported Remarks on Who Fired First at Thai Border Pen Bona Demands Sam Rainsy Clarify Reported Remarks on Who Fired First at Thai Border

PHNOM PENH, October 13, 2026 — Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona has strongly rejected opposition figure Sam Rainsy’s reported claim that Cambodian forces fired first in clashes with Thailand, reiterating Phnom Penh’s position that Thai forces initiated the shooting.

In a late-night statement, Pen Bona responded to remarks reportedly made by Sam Rainsy in an interview with Thai media outlet Top News, in which the opposition leader allegedly claimed that Cambodian forces fired first and prompted Thailand to retaliate.

The government spokesperson categorically rejected the allegation and reaffirmed that, according to Cambodia’s official position, Thai forces fired first.

Pen Bona, Cambodian Government’s Spokesperson

Government demands clarification from Sam Rainsy

Pen Bona called on Sam Rainsy to publicly clarify whether he had made the reported remarks.

He said that if Sam Rainsy had not made the statements attributed to him, he should issue a formal denial of the Thai media report.

Sam Rainsy, Cambodian’s Self-Exiled Politician given one of the exclusive interviews to Thai PBS border conflicts, transnational scam networks, and his efforts to challenge the Hun family

However, if the remarks were accurately reported, Pen Bona demanded that Sam Rainsy publicly apologise to the Cambodian people, describing the alleged comments as a serious act of betrayal against the nation.

The spokesperson added that failure to formally deny the report would mean, in the government’s view, that Sam Rainsy had indeed made the remarks.

Pen Bona said he hoped the opposition figure would have the courage to come forward and clarify the matter.

The dispute centres on conflicting accounts of who initiated the shooting during the Cambodia-Thailand border clashes. The government’s statement represents Phnom Penh’s position, while the reported remarks attributed to Sam Rainsy have become the subject of a public demand for clarification.

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