Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Broadcasting "Ghost-Like Sounds" in Alleged Psychological Warfare Along Disputed Border

The allegation emerges months after both nations had established a ceasefire agreement. (File)

Cambodia's former Prime Minister Hun Sen has leveled accusations against Thailand for transmitting "ghost-like" sounds across a contested border area. Concurrently, Cambodia's human rights commission has charged Bangkok with conducting psychological warfare, despite the ceasefire agreement reached between the two countries in July.

Sen, who now holds the position of Cambodia's Senate president, released a letter dated October 11, which was dispatched by the commission to the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.

The correspondence highlighted "serious human rights violations involving the use of disturbing sounds as a method of psychological intimidation and harassment" along the Thai-Cambodian boundary.

According to the human rights commission's letter, high-pitched sounds resembling crying children, barking dogs, clanking chains, and helicopter noises have been projected through loudspeakers during nighttime hours since October 10.

"These sounds, characterized as intense, high-pitched noises continuing for extended periods, have interrupted sleep patterns, triggered anxiety, and inflicted physical discomfort on residents, including vulnerable populations such as women, children, the elderly, the ill, and individuals with disabilities," the letter stated.

Thailand has yet to issue a response to these allegations.

This development follows several months after the two nations agreed to an "unconditional" ceasefire, which came after five days of conflict resulting in at least 36 fatalities.

More than 200,000 individuals were displaced from their homes as both sides engaged in heavy artillery exchanges in a conflict over the long-disputed territory, which contains several ancient temple complexes.