Phnom Penh — Cambodia’s Minister of Information, Neth Pheaktra, has stated that cameras and pens are among the sharpest weapons in the information battlefield, particularly during the recent 21-day conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, which he said was triggered by Thai military actions.

In a post shared on his official Facebook page, Neth Pheaktra said that factual reporting through the lens of cameras and the written word enabled journalists to work directly on the ground in the affected provinces of Oddar Meanchey, Battambang, and Banteay Meanchey. These areas were subjected to heavy artillery fire and aerial bombardment by Thai forces during what he described as an invasion of Cambodian territory.

The minister emphasized that throughout the 21 days of fighting, journalists played a crucial and highly active role in delivering accurate, timely, and evidence-based information to the public. He noted that their work was essential in countering disinformation and information warfare originating from a neighboring country, thereby safeguarding truth and national information sovereignty.

Neth Pheaktra stressed that cameras and pens are not merely tools for reporting, but powerful instruments for exposing facts, defending national integrity, and protecting the public’s right to truthful information during times of conflict.

Under the leadership and coordination of the Ministry of Information, national and international media outlets were deployed to report directly from sites where Thai military attacks had occurred in key areas of Cambodia.

The minister also expressed his gratitude to relevant authorities for their close cooperation in facilitating journalists’ field reporting during the period of conflict, which he described as an infringement on Cambodia’s territorial integrity.

He concluded by underscoring that truth was brought to light through the cameras and pens of journalists, reaffirming their role as the most effective weapons in the modern information battlefield.