The Cambodian Human Rights Committee says Thailand risks being viewed as a lawless state if it fails to deliver justice in the alleged rape of an eighteen-year-old Cambodian migrant worker and other abuses committed during recent border tensions.
In a statement issued today, the committee condemned what it described as a brutal assault by seven Thai soldiers in black uniforms who allegedly detained and gang raped the young woman as she returned to Cambodia with a group of male workers. The committee says sexual violence is among the most serious violations of human rights and must be punished without exception.
The statement also accuses Thai troops of committing other abuses during past border conflicts, including seizing Cambodian homes and farmland, using loudspeakers to intimidate civilians, and causing physical and psychological harm to women, children, people with disabilities, and the sick.
The committee urged Thai authorities to immediately bring the alleged perpetrators to justice and provide compensation and support to the victim.
On November 16, the Ministry of Interior said the attack took place late Sunday night as the workers crossed back into Cambodia. According to the ministry, the soldiers separated the group into men and women, leaving the victim alone as the only female migrant in the group.
Interior Minister Sar Sokha said on Monday that the National Police is working with relevant agencies to document the incident and raise the case at the international level. He described the attack as a grave act of violence committed against a Cambodian national.
However, the Thai newspaper Khaosod quoted military sources today rejecting the accusations. The report said Thai forces denied beating the workers, stealing belongings, or assaulting the victim, calling the claims fabricated by Cambodian authorities.
Despite this denial, several Cambodian ministries, including the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, issued strong statements condemning what they described as an inhumane act. They said the assault showed a disregard for human dignity and called on Thailand to take responsibility for the actions of its soldiers.
