Phnom Penh – Cambodian Senate President and former Prime Minister Hun Sen has declared that Thailand should be grateful for his past assistance to the Shinawatra family, escalating tensions in his ongoing dispute with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Thailand seeks legal action against Hun Sen over leaked recording

Speaking at a government meeting in Cambodia on Friday, Hun Sen delivered a sharp critique of Thailand’s political leadership, stating, “You must understand that Cambodia is not unintelligent; we know your politics well.” He warned that he would reveal more in the coming days, including private discussions with the Shinawatra family that could touch on sensitive matters.

Hun Sen claimed he had been privy to internal Thai political maneuvers, alleging that Paetongtarn Shinawatra had confided in him about plans to remove Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul from his posts as deputy prime minister and interior minister. “If you can betray your own citizens, why would you not dare betray me? Of course, you would,” he said, suggesting a breach of trust.

The Cambodian leader also directed remarks at former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father, advising him to “take good care of your daughter.” Drawing a parallel between their children—both now serving as prime ministers—Hun Sen asserted, “I do not owe a debt to Thailand; that is a matter between states. It is your people that owe me a debt of gratitude.” He emphasized his demand for mutual respect in bilateral relations, free from interference.

In a surprising revelation, Hun Sen accused Thaksin of exaggerating his health problems to evade legal proceedings. Recalling a visit to Thaksin’s Bangkok residence in February 2024, Hun Sen said the former Thai leader showed no signs of illness yet wore medical equipment for photos, allegedly to mislead the public. “I had no idea he was pretending,” Hun Sen said, adding that he remained silent out of respect at the time but was now speaking out due to Paetongtarn’s “lack of moral integrity.”

Hun Sen claimed to possess an audio recording of a contentious exchange with Paetongtarn, which he threatened to release following Thai criticism of Cambodian troop movements near the border. He accused the Thai prime minister of making “rebellious” comments to military officials and warned that Cambodia was prepared to take “military action if necessary.”

Cambodian Senate President Samdech Hun Sen has asserted that Thailand owes him a debt of gratitude for once sheltering members of the Shinawatra family, in the latest exchange in the ongoing dispute between him and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

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“I will monitor Thailand’s response,” he said, suggesting he could expose damaging information about Thai officials in a lengthy disclosure lasting “four to five hours.”

Shifting focus to cybercrime, Hun Sen alleged that Thailand—not Cambodia—was the true hub of international call center scams. He urged the U.S. and China to investigate, claiming Cambodia was merely a “victim” while Thailand’s major airports facilitated criminal operations.

The verbal clash comes amid heightened military tensions following a May 28 skirmish in the disputed Chong Bok border area, where a Cambodian soldier was killed. Both nations have reinforced troops along the frontier and restricted trade crossings. Cambodia has sought International Court of Justice (ICJ) intervention in the border dispute, a move Thailand rejects.

Meanwhile, Thailand has ordered telecom providers to cut internet services to Cambodia in a bid to disrupt scam operations. Prime Minister Paetongtarn has vowed to dismantle Cambodian-based fraud networks, declaring, “The more they lose, the safer Thais are.”

Thai PM Demands National Unity Amid Cambodia Border Crisis, Condemns Hun Sen for Leak

As diplomatic strains worsen, Hun Sen’s latest remarks signal a deepening rift between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.

-Thailand News (TN)