Bangkok: Senator Angkana Neelapaijit has clarified her stance regarding the recent controversy over influencers using ghost sounds to exorcise “Khmers” in a conflict zone.
According to Thai News Agency, Senator Angkana emphasized that she was not accusing anyone but merely translating a document from the Cambodian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to file a complaint with the United Nations. Her actions were intended to express concern and question the appropriateness of influencers using ghost sounds to drive away “Cambodians” in the area.
Senator Angkana addressed a Facebook post she published after the influencer Kan Jom Phalang played ghost and fighter jet sounds in Ban Nong Chan, Sa Kaeo Province. She clarified that she was not criticizing anyone and was simply translating a letter from the Chairman of the NHRC of Cambodia to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The senator expressed concern that such actions might constitute psychological torture against civilians, as claimed
by the NHRC chairman. She highlighted the potential impact on vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly, and children, and questioned how the Thai representative would respond to this issue on an international platform.
“I’m not criticizing anyone, and I’m also questioning the fact that the area is under martial law. I’m just wondering how influencers were able to enter the area, including the parade floats and loudspeaker trucks. How did they get there? That’s all,” Ms. Angkana stated.
Angkana insisted that her intentions were not against the Cambodian side, noting that the area is a conflict zone. She compared the situation to past protests in Bangkok, where riot control officers used loudspeakers to disperse crowds, a measure in line with international standards. The Cambodian NHRC’s letter indicated that the ghost sounds were played late at night when civilians were resting. Ms. Angkana expressed concern that the letter sent to the United Nations might align with her complaints of potential psycho
logical torture.
When questioned about whether Cambodia might use the incident to boost its influence, Ms. Angkana appeared indifferent, stating that the post was public and an honest expression of opinion. She questioned the actions of influencers and noted that reports and lawsuits had been filed against them, extending even to the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“If you re-read the post, you’ll see that it’s an expression of concern and a question about whether anyone should be allowed in. It’s an open expression of opinion. What I want to say is that there’s no clashes or military operations in that area right now. It’s a civilian area, and the incident is like bringing civilians into conflict with each other. We must be careful because it could undermine civil relations. This is also a matter of international humanitarianism,” Ms. Angkana concluded.