PM Hun Manet responds to questions why the government remains “silent”

Prime Minister Hun Manet, Bloomberg

Prime Minister Hun Manet, through his official social media account on Tuesday afternoon, addressed growing public debate and speculation circulating online. He clarified that certain questions and claims had caused confusion, with some individuals even attempting to exploit these matters for political gain.

The Prime Minister outlined four key points of clarification:

1. Why has the government remained “silent”?

PM Hun Manet explained that some people may assume the government is inactive unless the Prime Minister or other senior officials regularly issue statements on television or social media. However, in times of rapid developments and uncertainty, ensuring accuracy and calm in public information is essential to avoid confusion and panic.

For this reason, the government has established a communication mechanism through official spokespersons, including the Government Spokesperson, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who regularly provide updates. In addition, relevant institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information, the Secretariat of Border Affairs, and provincial administrations also issue their own updates to the public.

2. Has the government ordered frontline troops to withdraw after the ceasefire talks?

“The short answer is no,” PM Hun Manet affirmed. He stressed that the government issued no orders for troop withdrawal after the ceasefire agreement, nor did the negotiations require either side’s troops to leave their positions.

3. Were past negotiations linked to land swaps or territorial concessions?

“The short answer is no,” the Prime Minister reiterated.

He clarified that the ceasefire talks held on 28 July in Malaysia addressed only the cessation of hostilities. Past bilateral discussions — including the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) between defense ministers and the Regional Border Committee (RBC) meetings between regional commanders — did not involve discussions on border demarcation.

All outcomes of these meetings (the 28 July special talks, the GBC, and the RBC) were made public with no concealment. There were no secret negotiations outside of these official meetings.

Regarding border issues, PM Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia’s consistent position of resolving disputes peacefully through existing mechanisms — namely, the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Border Commission (JBC) — based on agreements between both countries, relevant treaties, and international law.

4. Has the government and the Ministry of National Defense failed to support frontline troops, leaving only charitable donations to assist them?

PM Hun Manet firmly rejected this claim, stating: “The government has never abandoned its responsibility toward our heroic soldiers, national police, and citizens affected by fighting or border violations.”

He asked the public to understand that the Ministry and relevant state institutions do not always publish or broadcast reports about their logistical support, which may lead some to mistakenly believe the government has neglected frontline troops.

He emphasized that the government’s responsibility extends not only to frontline forces and residents in border areas but also to all troops and citizens across the nation.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to the Cambodian people for their patriotic spirit and solidarity in supporting frontline forces with food, supplies, and other assistance to supplement what the government provides. He said the government has always welcomed this spirit of national unity — “Khmer helping Khmer” — since the outbreak of armed clashes on 24 July. He urged continued solidarity during this difficult time to overcome challenges together.

PM Hun Manet concluded by expressing hope that his clarifications would resolve many of the misunderstandings observed on social media. He called on citizens to maintain trust in the Royal Government, which is working actively to achieve a swift resolution in the national and people’s best interests, even if not all efforts are made public, creating the impression of government “silence.”