Cambodian media posted a claim that the “Deputy Commander of the 31st Infantry Division died at Ta Kwai Temple,” which turned out to be fabricated “fake news” aimed at inciting hatred.

Thai PBS Verify found the source of the information from: Facebook

A screenshot image shows a post by the DAP News page claiming that the Deputy Commander of Thailand’s 31st Infantry Division has died.

Thai PBS Verify found a post by a Cambodian media outlet “DAP News” claiming that the Deputy Commander of the 31st Infantry Division, King’s Guard, died in combat in front of Ta Kwai Temple, stating that:

មេបញ្ជាការរង កងពលតូចថ្មើរជើងលេខ៣១ នៃកងរក្សាស្តេចថៃបានងាប់នៅសមរភូមិមុខប្រាសាទតាក្របី ថ្ងៃពុធទី១០ ធ្នូ ២០២៥ នេះ។

When the message was translated into Thai using Google Translate, it read:

“Deputy Commander of the 31st Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Guards died in combat in front of Ta Krabey Temple on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.”

The post was published on 10 December 2025. After the post was published, it received more than 4,700 reactions and was shared more than 400 times. Most of those who commented were Cambodian users, all of whom believed the claim to be true.

The Army confirms it is fake news.

However, Thai PBS Verify contacted Col. Richa Suksuwanont, Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Army, regarding this issue and received confirmation that the information was merely fake news. (Click to view the archived original content)

Col. Richa Suksuwanont, Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Army

Did this incident actually occur?

From the verification of the list of deceased Thai soldiers, no name of any officer holding the position of Deputy Commander of the 31st Infantry Division appears on the list of casualties. Only Pvt. Wayo Khwansuea, affiliated with the 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, King’s Guard, appears among the deceased. As of 11 December 2025, the total number of fatalities stands at nine, namely:

1. Staff Sergeant Satawat Sujarit, affiliated with the 6th Cavalry Reconnaissance Company, died on 8 December 2025.
2. Private Wayo Khwansuea, affiliated with the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, King’s Guard, died on 9 December 2025.
3. Corporal Chawakon Dechakhuntod, affiliated with the 11th Cavalry Battalion, 4th Cavalry Regiment, King’s Guard, died on 9 December 2025.
4. Lance Corporal Jirawat Mungklang, affiliated with the 1st Engineer Battalion, King’s Guard, died on 9 December 2025.
5. Private Therdsak Srilachai, affiliated with the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, died on 10 December 2025.
6. Staff Sergeant Ananda Udon, affiliated with the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, died on 10 December 2025.
7. Private Thanarat Chanprathat, affiliated with the 11th Infantry Division, 112th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Battalion, died on 10 December 2025.

1. Private Chanchai Phadungchok, affiliated with the 112th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Battalion, died on 11 December 2025.x
2. Private Thanakorn Singhachat, affiliated with the 211th Infantry Company, 21st Infantry Battalion, died on 11 December 2025.

Here is the translation exactly following the original text, without rearranging or rewriting.

What is the truth?

The post by Cambodian media outlet “DAP News” claiming that the “Deputy Commander of the 31st Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Guards died in combat in front of Ta Krabey Temple” on 10 December 2025 is fake news, and no such incident actually occurred.

• Confirmation from the military: Col. Richa Suksuwanont, Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Army, confirmed that this news is fake and completely untrue.

● Verification of the list of casualties: From the verification of the list of deceased Thai soldiers, totaling nine fatalities (as of 11 December 2025), no individual holding the position of “Deputy Commander of the 31st Infantry Division” appears on the list of those killed in this clash. Only enlisted personnel from the same unit were reported among the casualties.

Impacts of this false information

1. Inciting nationalism and hatred: this post has a clear intention to create misunderstanding among Cambodian people by claiming the death of a high-ranking Thai military officer, in order to legitimize its own military forces and incite hatred between nations.
2. Undermining troop morale: fake news about losses at the command level affects the morale and spirits of personnel deployed in border areas, and it also creates confusion and anxiety among soldiers’ families.
3. Creating diplomatic tension: false information related to high-level security and military matters has the potential to damage diplomatic relations and increase tensions in the atmosphere of negotiations between the two countries.

4. 

   A screenshot image shows comments posted by Cambodian users in the comment section.