Thai netizens criticise influencer for mocking Cambodian soldiers, urge restraint during conflict

A Thai social media influencer has triggered widespread criticism after posting an image appearing to mock Cambodian soldiers, as fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border enters its 19th consecutive day.

The influencer, known as Gun Jompalang, initially posted a photograph of himself holding a military arm badge attached to a Cambodian uniform, smiling and accompanied by the caption: “Don’t you want to stop yet?” The post quickly went viral and prompted a wave of condemnation from Thai social media users, many of whom argued that frontline soldiers — regardless of nationality — are human beings, often junior ranks with little control over political decisions.

Critics pointed out that many Cambodian troops are believed to be conscripts or ordinary civilians ordered into combat, and that mocking them dehumanises individuals who are themselves victims of political conflict.

Caption change fuels further controversy

After the backlash, Gun Jompalang changed both the image and the caption, replacing the smiling photo with one showing him crying. His new caption accused critics of selective outrage, arguing that incidents such as alleged Cambodian troops stepping on the Thai flag, harming civilians, or photographing Thai soldiers’ bodies had not generated the same reaction.

His sarcastic tone — including references to “peace goddesses” — intensified the debate rather than calming it, further polarising public opinion.

The episode highlights a broader struggle in Thai online discourse during wartime: where to draw the line between patriotism, protest, and incitement — and whether social media figures are amplifying emotion at the expense of restraint.

Public figures urge respect for fallen soldiers

The popular Thai page Drama Addict weighed in, arguing that most Cambodian soldiers killed at the border were ordinary villagers who believed they were defending their country.

The page stated that while Cambodia is a military adversary, individual soldiers deserve respect, noting that many of those killed were in their early twenties, some reportedly students or athletes whose futures were cut short. It argued that blame should be directed at political leaders — specifically Hun Sen — rather than at frontline troops, and urged communication with Cambodian citizens to challenge their leadership rather than dehumanise their soldiers.

Academic warning on international image

Political scientist Professor Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University criticised the Thai government for allowing what he called irresponsible nationalist rhetoric to damage Thailand’s international standing.

He argued that while war involves hostility, it is governed by international norms, and publicly mocking enemy soldiers violates those principles. He warned that allowing influencers to shape war narratives risks escalating nationalism and reinforcing international condemnation of Thailand at a time when the country is already facing diplomatic pressure.

“War has rules,” he wrote, warning against the weaponisation of social media nationalism and what he described as the “normalisation of mockery and hatred”.

A digital front line

As fighting continues on the ground, the online reaction underscores how social media has become a parallel battlefield — shaping perceptions, inflaming sentiment, and influencing how conflicts are interpreted domestically and internationally.

While physical clashes take lives at the border, the information war is reshaping public attitudes, blurring the line between patriotism and provocation, and raising questions about the responsibility of those with large digital platforms during times of conflict.

With no immediate sign of de-escalation, both the military confrontation and the online debate appear set to continue — each feeding into the other in ways that may prove difficult to contain.

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