Latest news with #Khmer
The Star
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hun Sen: I was betrayed first
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
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
‘I was betrayed first': Cambodia's Hun Sen exposes rift with former Thai leader Thaksin in livestream
Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen speaks to soldiers during his visits of armed forces stationed along the Cambodia-Thailand border on June 26. PHOTO: AFP 'I was betrayed first': Cambodia's Hun Sen exposes rift with former Thai leader Thaksin in livestream BANGKOK - Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen went live on Facebook on June 27 , just a day after warning that he would expose former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Speaking in Khmer, Mr Hun Sen delivered a combative message, claiming betrayal and threatening to reveal damaging information about the Shinawatra family. 'The time has come,' Mr Hun Sen said. 'They have betrayed me. Today, I will speak on eight points.' He added that further details would be shared with diplomats scheduled to meet him later that day. 'If they want it today, I will expose the Thaksin family.' Recording was no accident The Cambodian strongman began with the leaked audio clip, saying it was recorded intentionally. 'I recorded that conversation because I have been betrayed before,' he stated, justifying the leak. Paetongtarn accused of deception His second point was an accusation against Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whom he said deceived him. 'Paetongtarn said it was just part of the negotiation tactic. But clearly, you don't know me at all,' Mr Hun Sen said. He went on to criticise Mr Thaksin for failing to instill values in his children: 'On 14 June, 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.' Defiant over audio recordings Mr Hun Sen rejected any suggestion that his recording was illegal: 'There is no law preventing me from recording conversations. Why is the Thai Prime Minister afraid of a leaked audio clip?' He closed his speech with defiance: '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.' Mr Hun Sen continued his tirade against the Thai leadership, accusing Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra of using the call centre crackdown as a pretext for hostile action and border aggression. 'As Thai Prime Minister, you shouldn't behave this way,' Mr Hun Sen said. 'You claimed you went to the border to tackle call centre scams, but you ordered the border closed starting on 7 June and extended the shutdown further.' Cambodia 'deceived under the guise of cooperation' 'You closed the border under the guise of suppressing scams, when in fact your intention was aggression,' he said. 'I have always said that 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. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodian PM Manet thanks his people for maintaining dignity during Thai dispute
Prime Minister Hun Manet addressing the closing ceremony of a Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia event on June 23. - FN PHNOM PENH: As tensions over border disputes simmer between Thailand and Cambodia, the Cambodian leadership is continuing to urge the citizens of the kingdom not to discriminate against Thai nationals and to maintain their dignity. Thai residents in Cambodia have no reason to be concerned, noted Prime Minister Hun Manet. 'Up to this moment, the Khmer people have not looked down on or belittled Thai citizens living and working in Cambodia. I am very grateful to them for upholding such high moral standards. There are some cases [of discrimination] elsewhere, but they are not widespread because there are both good and bad people. "Please do not expand the issue. Relations between people and people, citizens and citizens, must not harbour hostility,' he said, as he addressed a June 23 meeting. He added that if Cambodian workers in Thailand face any discrimination, they should return to Cambodia, where buses are ready to deliver them home. 'This issue almost escalated. Recently, we saw children studying in Thai schools stomping and kicking the Khmer flag, and children in Khmer schools stomping and kicking the Thai flag,' he said. He emphasised that despite conflicts between governments or militaries, civilians must exercise restraint to avoid disputes at the public level. Recently, defence minister Tea Seiha made a similar appeal, even as the two countries' armies face off. On June 22, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation advised Cambodians to avoid travelling to Thailand unless it was absolutely necessary. 'At the same time, we urge all Cambodian citizens and workers currently in Thailand to exercise the utmost caution, closely monitor information from official sources and avoid travelling to areas prone to dangers, such as gatherings or protests of any kind,' said a foreign ministry statement. Similarly, Thailand's foreign ministry has urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Cambodia unless essential. The border dispute between the two countries has also escalated into the realm of trade. On June 23, the Thai government reportedly banned people and vehicles from crossing the Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand's seven border provinces, except for students and medical patients. Thai restrictions include the halting of all fuel and oil exports to Cambodia, although the Cambodian government had announced that it would pause all Thai oil and gas imports a full day earlier. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that these measures were aimed at curbing cross-border crime and online scams. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Chong Sai Taku crossing closed after provocative act by Cambodian tourists: Thai 2nd Army chief
BANGKOK: Thailand shuts Chong Sai Taku crossing after Cambodians filmed singing national anthem at disputed temple, says 2nd Army chief. The Second Army Area commander said on Sunday (June 22) that he had ordered the closure of the Chong Sai Taku border crossing due to a provocative act by a group of Cambodian tourists at an ancient Khmer temple in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district. Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Area, said he closed the Chong Sai Taku crossing in Changthop Phet subdistrict, Ban Kruat district of Buri Ram, on Saturday after around 30 Cambodian tourists crossed the border to visit Prasat Ta Krabey and recorded a video of themselves singing the Cambodian national anthem. Boonsin said Thai troops stationed at the temple responded with 'polite and appropriate' measures to stop what he described as a provocative act by the Cambodian group. Following the incident, Boonsin ordered the immediate closure of the Chong Sai Taku crossing, citing concerns that further provocations could inflame tensions and potentially lead to violence against locals. - Photo: The Nation/ANN Although Thailand has repeatedly affirmed that Prasat Ta Krabey lies within Thai territory, Cambodia has laid claim to the site. The temple is one of four locations Cambodia has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule in its favour. In response to the ICJ case, Thailand announced it did not recognise the court's jurisdiction and implemented a series of countermeasures, including reducing the opening hours of all border crossings with Cambodia. The closure of Chong Sai Taku came shortly after Cambodia closed the Chong An Ma crossing on Thursday morning. Previously, Chong Sai Taku was open seven days a week, but the Second Army Area had already limited operations to just three days a week—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday—following a border skirmish at the Chong Bok pass in Ubon Ratchathani on May 28. Cambodia has also retaliated by closing its Choub Korki and Choam checkpoints. - The Nation/ANN
The Star
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cambodian cookbook wins award in Portugal
The Taste of Angkor 2 features 38 Khmer dishes and desserts commonly enjoyed by Cambodian people nationwide. - Ministry of Foreign Affairs PHNOM PENH: Cambodian cookbook titled "The Taste of Angkor 2" received the "Special Award of the Jury" at the 30th Gourmand Awards in Lisbon, Portugal, said a foreign ministry's press release on Thursday (June 19). The award was presented during the Cascais World Food Summit held from June 18 to 22 in Lisbon, with hundreds of participants from approximately 200 countries and regions, the press release said, adding that The Taste of Angkor 2, published by the foreign ministry, was launched in March. The cookbook was compiled to further promote and enhance the legacy of Cambodia's gastronomy as part of its culinary diplomacy efforts and the implementation of the Economic Diplomacy Strategy. "The Taste of Angkor 2 features 38 Khmer dishes and desserts commonly enjoyed by Cambodian people nationwide," the press release said. "The cookbook also highlights Cambodia's rich agricultural heritage and renowned Geographical Indication (GI) products such as Phka Romduol Rice, Kampot Pepper, Kampot-Kep Salt, and Kampong Speu Palm Sugar," it added. Edouard Cointreau, chairman of the Awards Committee, said extensive efforts undertaken in recent years by Cambodia have allowed the world to rediscover the Khmer people. "This second volume completes a captivating study that honours Cambodia's illustrious past, celebrates the effective strategies of the present, and looks forward to the country's promising future," he said. The second edition follows the success of inaugural edition of "The Taste of Angkor," which has won four prestigious international Gourmand Awards, including "Best Asian Cookbook" in 2021, "Best Asian Cuisine Book" and "Heads of State/Food" in 2022, and "Best Television Awards" in 2023. - Xinhua
