Cambodia has lodged an urgent appeal with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, denouncing what it calls the Thai military’s use of “disturbing sounds” as psychological intimidation against Cambodian civilians living along the border, Cambodian media reported.

In a formal letter to UN High Commissioner Volker Türk, the Cambodian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) alleged that the noises were projected toward villages opposite Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province. The CHRC said it received credible reports from local authorities and residents in Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages, O Bei Chorn commune, O Chrov district, and Banteay Meanchey province, stating that units of the Royal Thai Armed Forces broadcast eerie, ghost‑like wailing through loudspeakers between 10:44 p.m. and 12:04 a.m., followed by recordings of aircraft engines from 3:22 a.m. to 3:53 a.m., all aimed at Cambodian communities.

According to the CHRC, these incidents have gravely affected villagers’ mental health, disrupting sleep and creating fear—especially among women, children, and the elderly. The commission condemned the acts as violations of the UN Charter’s principles of peace, human dignity, and sovereign respect, urging the UN Human Rights Office to investigate immediately, ensure accountability, and demand an end to all forms of psychological harassment.

Reports indicate that broadcasting such sounds into Cambodian territory is part of a campaign by Thai nationalist activists seeking to pressure Cambodian residents to leave disputed border areas, though the Thai military has denied involvement. Cambodia’s Minister of Information, Neth Pheaktra, publicly condemned the actions as “sound pollution” and a breach of basic human rights, calling them cruel and unjustifiable. Local officials and residents have also appealed to Thai authorities to halt these “immoral acts,” emphasizing the importance of preserving respect and goodwill between the two neighbouring nations.