Controversy has erupted after the winner of a Cambodian youth beauty pageant made a political remark during her acceptance speech, saying that "Thailand is fomenting an international dispute."
On the 20th (local time), according to the Hong Kong outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP), a video of Chhory Laorhorus crying as she delivered a speech after being chosen as Miss Teen Cambodia was posted on the pageant's official social media (SNS) account.
In the video, Laorhorus, holding the Cambodian flag, said in Khmer, "We call for the return of 18 Cambodian soldiers detained in Thailand."
She went on in English, "Cambodia and Thailand have always coexisted peacefully, but now peace has ended. Because Thailand started a war," adding, "We do not want to fight. We want peace. We are neighbors, not enemies, and we deserve a future without hatred and war."
At present, shootings and other incidents have occurred in the border area between Thailand and Cambodia, intensifying tensions between the two countries. The two nations have long been embroiled in border disputes and have not had particularly good relations.
After Laorhorus's speech was made public, reactions diverged in the two countries. The Cambodian side praised Laorhorus's patriotism. The Thai side, by contrast, questioned the propriety of political remarks during a beauty pageant and criticized them as stoking anti-Thai sentiment at a sensitive time.
On local social media, the phrase "Thailand started the war" has reportedly become a rallying cry and is drawing attention.