Hun Sen: I was betrayed first

The Star

4 hours ago

SENATE president Hun Sen went live on Facebook just a day after warning that he would expose former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Speaking in Khmer, he delivered a combative message, claiming betrayal and threatening to reveal damaging information about the Shinawatra family.
'The time has come,' Hun Sen said. 'They have betrayed me. Today, I will speak on eight points.'
He said further details would be shared with diplomats scheduled to meet him later that day, adding: 'If they want it today, I will expose the Thaksin family.'
He began yesterday's livestream with the leaked audio clip of a June 15 call he had with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, saying it was recorded intentionally.
'I recorded that conversation as I have been betrayed before,' he stated, justifying the leak.
His second point was an accusation against Paetongtarn of deceiving him: 'Paetongtarn said it was just part of the negotiation tactic. But clearly, you don't know me at all.'
He went on to criticise Thaksin for failing to instil values in his children: 'On June 14, Thaksin attacked me online. Meanwhile, the Thai Prime Minister disrespects her own military and monarchy. I will reveal the truth today.
'You may insult your own army and monarch, but you cannot do the same to me. It won't work.'
Rejecting suggestions that his recording was illegal, Hun Sen said: 'There is no law preventing me from recording conversations. Why is the Thai Prime Minister afraid of a leaked audio clip?'
'If you want to take it to the International Court of Justice, go ahead. I'm in Cambodia. File your 5,000 complaints – I don't care.'
He continued his tirade against the Thai leadership, accusing Paetongtarn of using a call centre crackdown as a pretext for hostile action and border aggression.
'As Thai Prime Minister, you shouldn't behave this way. You claimed you went to the border to tackle call centre scams, but you ordered the border closed starting on June 7 and extended the shutdown further,' he said.
'You closed the border under the guise of suppressing scams, when in fact your intention was aggression.
'I have always said online fraud is far from over – we need cooperation to address it. So why are you using it to attack Cambodia?'
He asserted that Cambodia had exercised patience for the sake of bilateral ties, while suggesting that Thailand had been the one backing criminal groups operating along its borders with Myanmar and Laos.
In response, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said he had not listened to Hun Sen's livestream and had no intention of doing so, describing the latter's remarks as inconsistent.
'I don't see the point in listening. Much of what he says contradicts itself, like his claims about border closures,' Phumtham said.
'If he was sincere or honest about his actions, he would have spoken clearly. Besides, I don't understand the language, so why bother?'
When asked about the potential release of audio clips that would expose sensitive issues involving Thailand, he remained unfazed.
'I'm not interested. It has nothing to do with the Thai government. We don't even know what his actual motives are. But what's clear is that he's engaged in information warfare and psychological games,' he said.
'Everything he's doing is aimed at weakening the Thai government's credibility and capacity. If our government becomes unstable, Mr Hun Sen stands to benefit, whether in territorial disputes or negotiations.'
Phumtham insisted that Thailand remains firmly committed to legality and transparency.
Asked whether the Thai government would take legal action, he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies were monitoring the situation.
'If there is any breach of international law that affects Thailand, we'll take appropriate legal steps,' he said. — The Nation/ANN