Civil society groups are concerned about the effects of chemical weapons used by the Thai army on Cambodian territory

Nearly 10 non-governmental organizations have expressed concern about the effects of chemical weapons used by Thai troops on Cambodian territory during clashes along the border, after finding signs of some effects.
A group of eight civil society organizations, including the Cambodian Humanitarian Forum (CHF), the Cambodian Human Rights Alliance (CHRAC), and Ponlok Khmer (PKH), issued a joint statement on September 11 that this information collection serves two purposes: to protect the environment, human rights, and the well-being of affected communities, and to support the implementation of relevant international law by ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.
The same source claims that research has found the presence of toxic chemicals used during the Cambodian-Thai border conflict, which pose a continuing risk to communities in the border areas. Symptoms include difficult breathing, dry throat, weakness, headache, and signs of possible lung damage.
The same source said that these symptoms occurred in villagers living in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces, while their livestock, such as chickens, ducks, and pigs, died in massve number while the surviving animals suffered from serious skin diseases and crops and fruit trees turn gray, others turn red, etc.
Furthermore, villagers living in the Takrabei Temple, Ta Moan Temple, and Preah Vihear Temple areas are afraid to return home due to the presence of unexploded ordnance and toxic smoke. While many villages have reported that the use of rainwater stored in jars has also caused vomiting, skin irritation, and diarrhea.
These organizations are calling on the United Nations and ASEAN to conduct independent scientific investigations and in-depth technical studies to identify the substances used to confirm their origin, to hold perpetrators accountable, and to ensure justice in accordance with international legal frameworks.
On August 19, 2025, the Thai Enquirer reported that the Thai army admitted that it had indeed used white phosphorus (WP) shells in the border conflict with Cambodia but the Thai military claimed that the white phosphorus was not a chemical weapon.
On July 28, 2025, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense claimed that at 5:06 p.m. on July 27, 2025, the Thai army used fighter jets, suicide drones, cluster bombs, and toxic smoke in the Ghost Mountain area in Cambodian territory.
Regarding this issue, Dr. In Sophal, a political science expert, wrote on his Facebook account on September 11 that Thailand is a signatory to major international treaties that prohibit the use of weapons such as the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention, and the Geneva Protocol (1925).