Thai-Cambodia skirmish rumours on Koh Kut debunked

Reports of alleged confrontations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on Koh Kut have been dismissed by the government as fake news. Despite the rumours, government agencies maintain that the tourism situation on the island remains positive, with visitor numbers surpassing those of previous years, according to Jirayu Houngsub, an adviser to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Koh Kut, located in Trat province, has attracted attention due to discussions about resuming talks with Cambodia over joint oil and gas development in the Gulf of Thailand.

These discussions fall under the contentious 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which critics argue could lead to a loss of Thai territory. This heightened interest seems to have sparked a wave of misinformation online, prompting government intervention.

Jirayu spoke on the situation between Thailand and Cambodia, maintaining that there had been no reinforcement of military forces on the island and no presence of Cambodian troops.

“First of all, there was no such intense security situation between Thailand and Cambodia on Koh Kut as rumoured.

“And there has been no exodus of Koh Kut residents fleeing the island as rumoured. In reality, a growing number of visitors are queuing up to board a ferry to the island. I would also advise against people falling for the fake news about a skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia erupting on Koh Kut.”

Fake news online

The government has begun taking action against those spreading false information online under the Computer Crime Act, which carries severe penalties. Jirayu noted that claims of cancelled hotel bookings due to the alleged security situation are untrue, as corroborated by data from the local Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Korakot Opas, the director of the TAT’s Trat provincial office, refuted reports of a 30% hotel cancellation rate on Koh Kut. Data from 20 hotels, including several high-end establishments, show occupancy rates of 72.4% in November, 74.51% in December, and 77.52% in January. A modest growth of 1% in tourist numbers is projected for this period.

Korakot reported that the Thai PM has been working to reassure potential visitors through state agency communications and visits by key government figures.

“The TAT is focused on creating understanding based on facts, not news reports. We are going to launch a campaign to boost local tourism.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to visit the island tomorrow, November 12, as part of these efforts.

This visit follows Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s trip to Koh Kut, where he reaffirmed Thailand’s sovereignty over the island. During his visit, Phumtham addressed concerns about the 2001 MoU, originally signed during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration and its implications for Thai sovereignty.