I recall this with pain.

I recall this with pain.

Before Cambodia was invaded by Thailand, when Cambodia was enjoying full peace, certain countries and some civil society organizations exerted pressure on Cambodia over human rights issues and issued continuous statements.

But now, when Thailand has invaded Cambodia—destroying civilian infrastructure, killing civilians, destroying homes, and so on—it seems strangely quiet. We hardly see any strong condemnation of Thailand at all.

Is this what human rights are?

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1. Human rights “should” be universal, but their application is “unequal”

In principle, human rights are universal—they should not depend on which country or which side is involved.

The killing of civilians, the destruction of homes, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure are serious human rights violations, regardless of who commits them.

But in reality, some organizations or some countries:

• Speak loudly during times of peace

• But remain silent or speak softly during conflicts or invasions

This makes many people feel that human rights are being used as a political tool, rather than upheld as a pure and principled value.

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2. Why the “silence”?

There are many reasons (not that they are justified, but they reflect political reality):

• Geopolitical interests

• Alliances or economic partnerships

• Or a deliberate choice to “look away” because the violator is not easy to confront

This is why many people say:

👉 Human rights have a loud voice against the weak, but a quiet voice against the powerful.

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3. So… is this human rights?

By its true meaning:

➡️ No, this is not genuine human rights.

It is selective advocacy of human rights, not sincere and equal protection of human rights.

True human rights should:

• Condemn violations regardless of which side commits them

• Stand with civilians regardless of nationality

• Never remain silent in the face of violence and invasion

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4. What we can do

At the very least:

• Asking questions like the one you are asking is extremely important

• Remembering and speaking about the suffering of civilians preserves the dignity of human rights

• We must not allow the term “human rights” to become an empty phrase that exists only on paper and on people’s lips