Asian Angle | The Thai influencer bringing viral warfare to Cambodia’s border

When Malaysia brokered a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia in July, many hoped the guns would finally fall silent along the border. Instead, new noises have filled the front lines: the hum of drones, the whirr of smartphones and, in one surreal moment, the wail of “ghost sounds” blasted across the Cambodian side.

The source of these sonic bursts was not a military psychological operations unit, but someone who goes by “Gun Jompalang” – possibly Thailand’s most controversial self-styled social media influencer, whose name roughly translates as “Gun the Superpower”.

In an age when social media often shapes public sentiment faster than any press release, influencers have become powerful intermediaries between the Thai state, soldiers and people’s screens.

Gun’s rise from online crusader to battlefield personality reflects a striking shift in how wars are waged and witnessed. Calling himself a “justice crusader” with 9 million followers on Facebook alone, Gun is apparently followed for his patriotic stunts and “justice missions”.

He has made himself a fixture along the Thai-Cambodian border since the latest conflict broke out this summer.

Gun’s popularity rests on his direct, performative patriotism. Through live streams, short videos and Facebook posts, he has chronicled at least 30 visits to different border towns, delivering supplies and tactical gear to frontline troops, reportedly paid for by public donations.