Two Villagers Defend Encounter with Cambodian Soldiers After Army Spokesman Apologizes for Misunderstanding, Still Cannot Confirm Identity
Two Buriram villagers say they encountered armed men near the Thai-Cambodian border on May 11, escaping after a warning shot was fired during a four-hour ordeal. The army initially dismissed their account but later apologized, though offici
On May 11, 2025, two local residents—63-year-old Aphirak Butphet from Ban Sai Tho 1 Sub-district and 59-year-old Prayoon Buunkham from Ban Sai Tho 2 in Buriram—encountered approximately 10 armed men near the Bang Mang Pong base in Thai sovereign territory while foraging. The two men used their knowledge of the area to escape, and their pursuers fired a warning shot before withdrawing. The ordeal lasted over four hours.
The situation escalated when Army spokesman Brigadier General Windhay Suwaree disputed the villagers' account, claiming the men were actually Thai soldiers speaking Khmer and had not fired weapons. The affected villagers and residents expressed displeasure with the spokesman's contradictory statements.
The Army spokesman subsequently apologized, admitting that initial information verification was incomplete and had been communicated prematurely, causing misunderstanding. However, the military still cannot definitively confirm whether the armed men were actual Cambodian soldiers or possibly law enforcement violators in disguise. The incident area is described as ordinary grassland commonly traversed by residents, not a disputed border zone.
When asked if they would continue foraging in the area, both villagers stated they must continue as it is Thai territory, not Cambodian. The village headman has advised residents to travel in groups of 2-3 and forage during early morning hours rather than at night for safety purposes.
