(Phnom Penh): Keo Ramy, President of Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), sent an official letter to Fredrik Malmberg, Director of Swedish Institute for Human Rights, to call for review of Gripen (E/F) Fighter Jet sale to Thailand to uphold human rights principles.

“On behalf of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), I extend my highest respect and admiration to the Kingdom of Sweden. For decades, Sweden has stood as a champion of human rights, democracy, and peace—serving as an inspirational role model for all nations to uphold dignity and justice for all peoples,” according to the statement seen by Fresh News on Thursday (Aug. 28).

“In light of Sweden’s longstanding moral leadership, we are compelled to convey our deep concern regarding the agreement to sell Gripen (E/F) fighter jets to the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Under the current circumstances, such a sale would not only undermine peace and security but also pose a grave risk of the aircraft being used in acts of aggression against Cambodia, placing civilians in danger and threatening national sovereignty.

As you are aware, there have been past instances where Thai military aircraft were deployed in ways that tragically harmed Cambodian civilians. Authorizing such transfers today risks further enabling Thai military forces to repeat that history.

Under the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, and other international laws, States are called upon to avoid actions that may indirectly facilitate aggression or undermine regional peace. In this context, Sweden’s defense partnership with Thailand risks being perceived not as neutral commerce but as an enabling act that may embolden military escalation and acts of aggression from Thailand that result in human suffering.

Sweden enjoys a deeply respected international reputation for defending human rights, particularly in Cambodia. The sale of such enabling instruments of war represents a stark contrast and contradiction to Sweden’s longstanding priority of supporting human rights. Sweden must ensure that its arms trade policies are not guided by economic considerations alone, but by a genuine commitment to human rights, peace, and the prevention of suffering.

We respectfully request the Swedish Institute for Human Rights to:

1. Strongly oppose the sale of Gripen (E/F) fighter jets to Thailand under the present circumstances.

2. Urge the Swedish Government to review and reconsider the sale, including conducting a transparent and thorough human rights-based risk assessment in line with relevant international law obligations.

3. Support peaceful mechanisms to resolve the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute without further military escalation.

The CHRC believes in Sweden’s moral leadership and sincerely hopes that your esteemed Institute will act consistently with Sweden’s legacy of championing peace and human rights. Refraining from arming aggressors is not just a matter of international law, but also a matter of conscience.

Cambodia remains firmly committed to pursuing peaceful solutions to the conflict in accordance with international law and regional human rights frameworks. The CHRC also takes this opportunity to inform and request your Institute’s support in calling for the immediate and unconditional release and repatriation of the remaining 18 Cambodian soldiers currently held in Thai custody, who were unlawfully captured by Thai military forces.”
=FRESH NEWS