[PHNOM PENH] Cambodia’s most influential politician called for a leadership change in Thailand, citing doubts about the prime minister’s ability to manage a border dispute between the two countries.
“I hope there will be a new prime minister in Thailand who will come out and solve issues with neighbouring countries, especially with Cambodia,” former Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Friday (Jun 27) during a nearly four-hour televised address. With that, “I don’t think we will still be confrontational.”
Cambodia’s provocations add to the worries of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose government nearly collapsed this month after a leaked call with Hun Sen was released in which she criticised her army, prompting a key coalition ally to defect.
Paetongtarn has resisted calls to resign and her coalition allies have pledged to remain for now. On Monday, Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission opened a preliminary investigation into the prime minister over the leaked call.
Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades, is the father of Prime Minister Hun Manet and currently serves as Senate president.
On Friday, he threatened to release potentially sensitive content from a private conversation he had with Thaksin Shinawatra, the patriarch of Thailand’s ruling party and father of the prime minister. He accused Thaksin of insulting Thailand’s king – a crime punishable by prison.
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Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Hun Sen was trying to stir tensions and urged Thais not to listen to him.
“Regarding current attempts to sow divisions in Thai society through the circulation of inciteful content in social media, the Thai Government would like to reaffirm that it will use only official channels to communicate with the Cambodian Government,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on its website on Friday.
Cambodia has banned imports from Thailand, including fruit, vegetables, electricity, Internet services, and even Thai television dramas and films. Paetongtarn’s government responded by restricting border crossings in seven provinces and halted exports, including fuel.
Hun Sen’s spokesman, Chea Thyrith, clarified the remarks, stating that he wanted to work with a new government in Thailand.
“The current government does not have enough power to make decisions in consensus to represent Thailand in solving border disputes,” he told Bloomberg. “We are happy to work with every new government that has enough power to represent Thailand.” BLOOMBERG
