The former Thai Muay Thai athlete was subjected to intense public scrutiny after a video of him slamming Cambodian workers in Thailand surfaced. The incident occurred shortly after a fatal border clash between Thailand and Cambodian troops, killing at least a few Thai citizens, raising tensions along the shared frontier.
Video: Former Muay Thai fighter jet accused of attacking Cambodian men during rising tensions
On July 24, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that 12 civilians, including a 15-year-old boy and a Thai soldier, were killed in a series of attacks believed to be intentionally intended for civilian and medical locations in Surin and Sisakhet. The strike, which is said to have been carried out by Cambodian military, targeted hospitals and nearby residential areas, resulting in widespread criticism from Thais and government authorities.
Army officials accused Cambodian military of intentionally hurting civilians rather than engaging with military personnel. The event quickly sparked a wave of anger, with many Thai citizens questioning the humanity of the responsible person and expressing their sadness towards the victims.
Against the backdrop of sadness and anger, several voices on social media have begun to seek retaliation against the Cambodian people living in Thailand. The appeal ranged from police lawsuits against undocumented workers to more extreme proposals targeting innocent Cambodians.
In this intense climate, attention has been focused on former Thai fighters whose identity has yet to be disclosed. The former athlete posted a video on social media showing conflict with three Cambodian workers at a local fresh market. The footage is depicted by a former boxer urging a worker to oppose the violence committed by the Cambodian military. The man agreed without hesitation.
However, when another worker didn’t make the verbal accusations, instead he was just smiling at the camera, and the former Muay Thai fighter slapped him in the face. The athlete warned on camera, “You may not be bothered by Cambodian soldiers attacking innocent Thai people, but your fellow countrymen will become your fellow countrymen.”
The video quickly gained traction online and fostered a strong backlash from Thai people who criticized the actions of the former athlete. Many argued that such behavior only incites xenophobia and undermines the safety of the community. Commentators stressed that individual acts of violence and threats should not be replaced by legal or diplomatic solutions, and warned that retaliatory attacks within Thailand could put Thai citizens at risk, living and working in Cambodia.
Some Thai people sympathized with the anger felt by the victims’ families, but the general sentiment was one of the blame for vigilance. Observers expressed concern that further such cases could encourage dangerous cycles of retaliation within Thailand and across the border.