Thai prime minister visits border with Cambodia after leaked conversation triggers resignation calls
Paetongtarn traveled to a border town in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province, near a small contested territory with Cambodia where a brief confrontation between the two sides on May 28 killed one Cambodian soldier.
A statement from Thailand's Government House said Paetongtarn's visit was aimed at boosting morale among soldiers who are working hard to protect the country's sovereignty and interests.
Several groups of activists said Friday that they would rally next week to demand Paetongtarn's resignation.
Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen on Wednesday released a 17-minute recording of a conversation with Paetongtarn. She could be heard telling Hun Sen not to listen to 'an opponent' in Thailand. It's believed to be a reference to regional Thai army commander Boonsin Padklang, who had publicly criticized Cambodia over the border dispute.
Before the leak, Paetongtarn had already been criticized for a perceived soft stance toward Cambodia, especially by right-wing nationalists who are longtime foes of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
During Friday's visit, Paetongtarn was filmed walking alongside Boonsin, the commander of the 2nd army area who oversees the border area including the site of the recent clash, in an apparent display of unity between the government and the military.
Thailand's military plays a major role in politics. It has staged 13 coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.
Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin, was ousted in a coup in 2006, and Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who became prime minister in 2011, was also toppled by the military in 2014.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Trump calls on Thailand and Cambodia to cease fire and talk trade
Donald Trump said on Saturday he had held talks with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, as the two countries sought an "immediate ceasefire" following border the beginning of a private visit to his Scottish golf courses, the US president wrote on Truth Social that both nations "have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!".He added that he looked forward to resuming trade talks with Cambodia and Thailand though it wasn't appropriate to hold such discussions until the "fighting STOPS".At least 33 soldiers and civilians have been killed while thousands of Thai and Cambodian nationals have been displaced since fighting broke out on 24 July. Trump's intervention emerged a week before US tariffs on Cambodia and Thailand are due to come into force. From 1 August, businesses in the US shipping in goods from Thailand or Cambodia will have to pay a 36% tax unless an agreement can be reached before then. Earlier on Saturday, Cambodia had already called for "immediate" ceasefire with Sangiampongsa, Thailand's foreign minister, said its neighbour needed to show "genuine sincerity in ending the conflict" for talks to teeing off at his luxury resort Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire, the US president said that he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai."When all is done, and peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!" Trump wrote.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Thailand and Cambodia cannot afford this war – but neither is prepared to give an inch
The tank screeches as it rolls into the ad-hoc military base before four battle-weary soldiers jump out to re-inspect the hefty vehicle. Around them, the thud of artillery fire reverberates, a near-constant reminder that the forested front line is just three miles south. This is not the image that comes to mind when most people think of Thailand. But since Thursday, when simmering tensions over a long-disputed border with Cambodia ignited into open conflict, these troops have been at the forefront of clashes that have claimed 33 lives, including children. Lt Nitipon, who gave only his first name, told The Telegraph in Sisaket province on Saturday: 'You can hear two sounds right now – one is from artillery fire, the second is from the rocket launcher. It's coming from both sides… all I can tell you is that we are protecting our sovereignty.' The Thai soldier added that while his unit had no intention of ceding ground, they had not escaped their battles unscathed. 'This is the duty for me as a soldier, and I'm very proud to do my duty… but of course I don't want the war to go on because it only brings losses,' Lt Nitipon said. 'People in our unit have been injured and are in treatment right now at the field hospital.' On Saturday, Thailand and Cambodia traded fresh accusations and heavy artillery fire as the conflict between the south-east Asian neighbours entered a third day, with few signs of imminent de-escalation on the ground. In Sisaket – where even the normally ubiquitous 7-11 convenience shops had closed their doors in eerily quiet border towns – military trucks tore down the deserted roads leading to the front line. Throughout the afternoon, The Telegraph heard the frequent boom of artillery. Clashes also spread further west to coastal regions on Saturday, where Thailand's navy joined the fight, despite continued international calls to cease violence, including an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday. Donald Trump, the US president, wrote on social media on Saturday, referring to tariff negotiations: '[We] do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting – And I have told them so!' But while both sides have talked of peace, Thailand prefers bilateral talks and Cambodia favours international arbitration. Each has also claimed that the other has undermined armistice efforts by continuing to attack civilians, and criticised the use of assets including F-16 jets and rocket launchers. Tita Sanglee, a Bangkok-based associate fellow at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute think tank, said: 'I think the Thai military is [trying] to weaken Cambodia's military capabilities before negotiating. 'But my sense is that the fighting will be contained along the border, but will be quite intense. The two sides are at odds over how to resolve disputes, but it's not in their interest to escalate this geographically, partly because of tourism and economic interests.' Bitter spats between the two rivals are not new, with much of the animosity dating back to differing interpretations of a colonial-era map, leading to disputed ownership of ancient temples. But the latest violence is now bloodier than the previous major outbreak, between 2008 and 2011. On Saturday, Cambodia's defence ministry said at least 15 people have been killed so far, while Thailand has put the death toll at 20. In all, 21 civilians have lost their lives across both countries, including an eight-year-old. Thongdee Nimit, 67, said perched on a red plastic chair in the evacuation centre where she's been since Thursday: 'This is the heaviest fighting that I remember. 'The warning came and not even three minutes later – boom, boom, boom. 'It was so scary, and all the soldiers were coming saying 'get out', 'get out'. It wasn't like this at all last time.' Ms Nimit is among thousands of evacuees sheltering in a covered concrete schoolyard, where they are sleeping and eating on mats with little refuge from the humid weather. In all, officials estimate that more than 138,000 people have now been forced to flee their homes in Thailand, plus a further 35,000 in Cambodia. Yinh Ya, an NGO executive who fled Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province after witnessing heavy shooting, said: 'We left the home and just evacuated the people out, we left out animals and our assets.' 'We're worried because they [Thailand] have used drones and jets to attack the military along the border already,' he told The Telegraph by phone, laying blame squarely at Bangkok's door. 'Even though there has been tension for months, everyone here was shocked by how fast it all happened. There is a lot of fear.' Animosity between the two nations re-emerged in May, after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish on the disputed 508-mile border. But relations truly imploded after two groups of Thai soldiers were injured by landmines on Wednesday. Thailand claims the ordnance was newly laid, but Cambodia says they are leftovers from a final stint of fighting during the murderous Khmer Rouge regime. Still, soon after the incident, both sides downgraded relations, expelled their neighbour's ambassador and recalled embassy staff. Then on Thursday, heightened tensions ignited into deadly clashes – both sides blame the other for starting the violence. Yet the embers of war are also being fanned by strongmen politicians in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Escalating tensions have mirrored a rapid decline in relations between Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra, two former prime ministers whose children now hold the role. Or at least, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn did – until Hun Sen leaked an audio of a call last month where she kow-towed to the Cambodian leader and criticised her own military, a major red line in Thailand. She has since been suspended, and Thailand plunged into a political crisis. Analysts attempting to explain Hun Sen' s motives for unravelling a once-close friendship – the two men had called each other 'godbrothers' – say it may be linked to a crackdown by the Thai government on scam centres in Cambodia, or because of Thaksin's push to legalise casinos in Thailand, which would threaten business across the border. But through the fighting, he has succeeded at bringing the country together against a common enemy, said Mu Sochua, the head of the opposition Khmer Movement for Democracy. She told The Telegraph: 'His tactic is working… it's like a big wave of outrage,' 'There's nothing to stop this nationalistic sentiment at this moment.' A similar outpouring has been seen in Thailand, where local media have also reported attacks on migrant workers. In Bangkok, one motorbike taxi was seen with a sign on his back on Saturday saying he would 'not accept orders from Khmer/Cambodian people'. Yet, despite his attempts, Thaksin may not be able to capitalise in the same way as Hun Sen, a largely authoritarian figure who has significantly more power domestically. Peter Mumford, the head of the Eurasia group's south-east Asia office, said: 'The military skirmish puts further political pressure on… Paetongtarn and likely emboldens their conservative opponents.' 'If the security or domestic political situation worsens, speculation about a military coup will grow – though we are not there yet.' Yet in Sisaket on Saturday, few were thinking about national politics. Instead, weary residents too anxious to sleep amid artillery fire just wanted life to return to normal – though they, like the soldiers, felt Cambodia was at fault. Pawana Apaisila, a resident, said: 'I cannot sleep at night because I'm just thinking about what's happening and our home. 'None of this is worth it. But then, if we cave to them [Cambodia], I think they will keep wanting more. I am a Thai citizen, I feel we cannot keep losing our land to them.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
The bitter feud fuelling the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia
The dispute over Thailand and Cambodia's contested border, which dates back more than a century to disagreements over colonial-era maps, has broken into conflict before. But the most recent clashes, which erupted on Thursday, have been fuelled by another factor: a bitter feud between two powerful political patriarchs. Hun Sen, 72, and Thaksin Shinawatra, 76, former leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, were once such close friends they reportedly called one another brothers. Hun Sen has, over the years, supported Thaksin's family during their long-running power struggle with Thailand's military. Thaksin and his sister Yingluck stayed at Hun Sen's home after they were ousted from power, while Hun Sen appointed Thaksin an economic adviser to the Cambodian government. Thaksin frequently visited Cambodia, and Hun Sen was the first foreign guest to see the former Thai leader after he returned home after more than 15 years in self-imposed exile. But relations have broken down spectacularly over recent months. The exact reasons for their feud are unclear, but analysts say it has created an additional layer of volatility that is exacerbating deadly clashes on the neighbouring countries' border. Hun Sen and Thaksin are no longer in office in their respective countries, but both remain powerful. Hun Sen ruled for almost 40 years until 2003, when his eldest son Hun Manet became prime minister after running virtually uncontested in a sham election. Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra became prime minister last year. The extent of their falling out became clear last month, when Hun Sen leaked a recording of a phone conversation between himself and Paetongtarn. In the call, which was about the border dispute, Paetongtarn called Hun Sen 'uncle' and told him if there was anything he wanted, she would 'take care of it'. She also made disparaging comments about a senior Thai military commander. The leaked recording caused uproar in Thailand. Critics accused her of kowtowing to Cambodia, putting her family connections before the country's national interests. She was suspended from office by the constitutional court in July pending an investigation into ethical violations. It's not clear why Hun Sen chose to turn on his former friends. He has accused Thaksin of betrayal and threatened to reveal further sensitive information about the Shinawatras. 'I never imagined someone so close could act this way,' Thaksin said later, declaring their friendship over. Some analysts say Hun Sen may be trying to whip up nationalism domestically to increase support for his son, Hun Manet. Others suggest Hun Sen has been angered by Thailand's efforts to crackdown on so-called 'scam compounds' where trafficked workers are held and forced to target people around the world with online scams. This form of lucrative criminal activity has proliferated in the region over recent years, especially in Cambodia. 'The popular narrative in Thailand is that the two men may have had some kind of personal dealings behind the scenes that did not go according to plan and the fallout has spilled over into the realm of national interest,' adds Tita Sanglee, associate fellow with ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Whatever his motivations, Hun Sen has succeeded in damaging Thaksin's position, exploiting divisions between his family and the military, and creating a power vacuum in Thailand. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Hun Sen, meanwhile, 'holds near absolute control in Cambodia', adds Tita. He has stamped out virtually all opposition voices and independent media. 'When he chooses to take a strong stance, militarily or politically, it has immediate and direct consequences.' On Thursday night, Thaksin said he had thanked countries that had offered to mediate the border dispute, but would like to wait, adding: 'We need to let the Thai military do their job, and first teach this cunning Hun Sen a lesson.' Given Thaksin's weakened position, he may not have a choice but to let the military take the lead. Last week Thailand downgraded it diplomatic relations with Cambodia, recalling its ambassador, and saying it would expel the country's envoy in Bangkok. Thaksin has denied the families' feud was the cause of the clashes. However awkward questions about his friend turned foe are likely to continue. As he visited communities sheltering from the conflict in Ubon Ratchathani, in northeastern Thailand, a woman confronted him: 'You're Hun Sen's friend, aren't you? Is he your friend? Why do you allow Cambodia to shoot Thai people?' Solving territorial disagreements is difficult in any context, said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University. 'No country would like to sacrifice any inch of sovereignty,' he said. But the personal conflict between Hun Sen and Thaksin has, he added, made their countries' dispute even more unpredictable.
