Thais no right to ban Cambodians

The Southeast Asian Games Federation Council reminded the Thais that they have no right to ban Cambodian athletes from competing in the 33rd SEA Games that will be held in Bangkok this December.

SEA Games Federation Council president Chaiyaphak Siriwat said the idea of banning the Cambodians from seeing action in the prestigious biennial tournament should be discussed and decided by the 11-nation body, not by the host country.

Siriwat, a Thai who is also the vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, is reacting to the statement made by Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Sarawong Thianthong in which he asserted that Cambodians should be banned from joining the Games due to the political tension at the Thai-Cambodian border.

Sarawong expressed concern that Cambodian athletes traveling to Thailand might face safety risks due to the current state of public sentiment. He also emphasized the need to give the Thais time to emotionally heal.

But Siriwat stressed that the decision to ban the Cambodians is not for the host country to make as the SEA Games Council has the jurisdiction over this very sensitive matter.

“As a Thai representative, I may support a ban on Cambodia at the end-of-year 2025 SEA Games, but ultimately, it’s not up to Thailand alone,” Siriwat told The Phnom Penh Post on Tuesday.

“The SEA Games Council must review Cambodia’s eligibility.”

The SEA Games Council chief added that all decisions must be guided by Olympic principles that emphasize political neutrality, non-discrimination and the right of all member countries to participate.

“The SEA Games Council or Thailand’s organizing committee has no right to prohibit any member nation (including Cambodia) from competing in the SEA Games, as long as they remain members of the council and face no official sanctions,” Siriwat said.

Cambodians are expected to march to the SEA Games in high spirits after a successful hosting in 2023, where they copped 81 gold, 74 silver and 127 bronze medals for a fourth-place finish.

But the border conflict in northeastern Thailand that resulted in 34 casualties and over 130 injuries had threatened to spoil the Cambodians’ participation as Thailand’s highest-ranking government sports official suggested that they should not be allowed to compete.

However, the tension had already simmered down with Malaysia brokering a peace agreement.

The SEA Games Council will tackle the Cambodians’ participation when it meets on 20 and 21 August.