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ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Thailand's government on brink of collapse after key coalition party withdraws support following leaked call
Political leaks are usually damaging but rarely bring a government to the brink of collapse. A leaked phone call has done just that in Thailand. The chat between Thailand's prime minister and a former Cambodian leader comes as the relationship sours over a border dispute that has stemmed from the death of a soldier. Here's how a soldier's death and a leaked phone call have brought a government to its knees. Late last month, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish in a contested zone known as the "Emerald Triangle", where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. Both the Thai and Cambodian armies said they acted in self-defence. The dispute dates back to the early 20th Century and the drawing up of the 800-kilometre frontier during the French occupation of the region. Parts of the border are not defined, with three temples also forming part of the dispute. Cambodia on Sunday asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on the dispute. It has repeatedly called on Thailand to join the proceedings, but Bangkok does not recognise the ICJ's jurisdiction. The killing of the soldier by Thai forces prompted a mobilisation of forces on both sides of the border. Both countries called for calm while also vowing to defend their sovereignty. Thailand tightened border controls with Cambodia, prompting former Cambodian leader Hun Sen — father of current prime minister Hun Manet — to speak out. He blamed Thai "extremists" and the Thai army for stoking tensions and said the Thai government was "unable to control its military the way our country can". When Thailand did not reinstate normal border activity, Cambodia banned imports of fruit and vegetables along with all Thai drama from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint and cut internet bandwidth from its neighbour. Both sides had held meetings at the weekend to try and diffuse the situation. Thailand said progress had been made to de-escalate tensions. But after Hun Sen's remarks on Monday, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said her country would not be bullied or threatened, and warned that "unofficial" communication would harm diplomatic efforts. Ms Paetongtarn has faced criticism over her diplomatic response to the crisis, which contrasts with the military's tough rhetoric. Thailand's prime minister came to power in 2024 as head of an awkward coalition made up of the Pheu Thai party and a group of conservative, pro-military parties whose members have spent much of the last 20 years battling against her father, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The phone call between Thailand's prime minister and Hun Sen was leaked to the media on Wednesday, but was held on Monday. Hun Sen said the leak came from one of the 80 politicians he shared the audio recording with. In the conversation, Ms Paetongtarn is heard discussing the border crisis and complains about the bad publicity she was facing as a result. She called Hun Sen "uncle" and urged him not to listen to "the opposite side", including a prominent Thai military commander at the border. "He [the Thai general] just want to look cool and saying things that are not useful to the nation, but in truth what we want is peace," she told Hun Sen through a translator in the leaked audio clip. Ms Paetongtarn later told reporters her conversation with Hun Sen was part of a negotiation tactic and she had no problem with the Thai army. "I won't be talking privately with him [Hun Sen] anymore because there is a trust problem," she said. Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, commander of Thailand's Second Army Area overseeing the eastern border, on Wednesday told local media that Ms Paetongtarn had called him to explain the leak. "I don't have any issue, I understand," General Boonsin said. However, the damage was done and the reaction to the call was swift. The second-biggest member of the Thai government's ruling alliance, the conservative Bhumjaithai party, pulled out of the coalition on Wednesday. In a statement, it said Ms Paetongtarn had "damaged the sovereignty and well-being of the country and Thai Army". Thailand's ruling coalition lost 69 active members immediately, leaving Ms Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai party with barely enough votes to form a majority. If any other coalition partner withdrew, it would put Thailand on course for another election. The last poll was barely two years ago in 2023. ABC/wires
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Cambodia bans fruit and vegetables from Thailand amid border row
Cambodia on Tuesday banned imports of fruit and vegetables from Thailand as the two countries face off over a border dispute that led to a bloody military clash last month. One Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian armies both said they acted in self-defence. Thailand has imposed border restrictions with Cambodia in recent days, while Cambodia banned Thai dramas from television and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand. On Monday, Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen issued an ultimatum to Thailand to lift border crossing restrictions within 24 hours or face a ban on all Thai fruit and vegetable imports. Thai police officers and a soldier stand guard at a border checkpoint with Cambodia last week. Photo: Royal Thai Government / EPA-EFE Cambodian authorities said on Tuesday that their Thai counterparts were still imposing the border restrictions and Hun Sen's ultimatum had taken effect.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Cambodian government musters support from huge crowds in Thai border row
Tens of thousands of Cambodians took to the streets of Phnom Penh on Wednesday for an official rally to support the government's actions in its recent border dispute with Thailand. A massive crowd led by Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many — Prime Minister Hun Manet's youngest brother — joined a "Solidarity March" to support Cambodia's government and troops stationed on the border with Thailand. Singing patriotic songs and flourishing Cambodian flags and portraits of Hun Manet and his father, former leader Hun Sen, supporters marched to the Independence Monument in the heart of the capital. One Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian armies both said they acted in self-defense. Hun Many told the crowd that the march was "an encouragement and additional energy for the government and our forces." "When the country faces a threat or any insult, the Cambodian people will not stay still, we will stand up in united spirit," he said. Cambodia has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help resolve the border dispute in four areas — the site of last month's clash and three ancient temples. Cambodian leaders have repeatedly said the move was to prevent further military clashes. Hun Manet said Tuesday evening he wanted to maintain "peace and good cooperation" with Thailand. "Filing a complaint at the ICJ to resolve the dispute peacefully is our best option to keep friendship and good cooperation with Thailand," he said. The two sides held talks in Phnom Penh over the weekend, which Thailand said had made progress, but the row shows little sign of dying down. Cambodia on Tuesday banned imports of Thai fruit and vegetables after Bangkok refused to lift border crossing restrictions imposed in recent days. Cambodia last week banned Thai dramas from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand. Hun Manet said Tuesday that a return to normality depended on the Thai authorities. "The ball is in the hands of (the) Thai side, Thai military," he added. Thailand says it wants a negotiated solution and has urged Cambodia to stop "unofficial" communication — an apparent reference to fiery interventions by Hun Sen, who stepped down in 2023 but still wields great influence. The border row dates back to the drawing of the countries' 800-kilometer frontier in the early 20th century during the French occupation of Indochina. Cambodia has previously sought help from the ICJ in a territorial dispute over a border temple. In 1962, the court ruled that the disputed Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia, and in 2013, the ICJ awarded an area next to the temple to Cambodia as well. Thailand said it did not accept the court's jurisdiction. Violence sparked by the dispute has led to at least 28 deaths in the region since 2008.
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Cambodian government musters support from huge crowds in Thai border row
PHNOM PENH: Tens of thousands of Cambodians took to the streets of Phnom Penh on Wednesday (Jun 18) for an official rally to support the government's actions in its recent border dispute with Thailand. A massive crowd led by Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many - Prime Minister Hun Manet's youngest brother - joined a "Solidarity March" to support Cambodia's government and troops stationed on the border with Thailand. Flourishing Cambodian flags and portraits of Hun Manet and his father, former leader Hun Sen, supporters marched to the Independence Monument in the heart of the capital. One Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian armies both said they acted in self-defence. Cambodia has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help resolve the border dispute in four areas - the site of last month's clash and three ancient temples. Cambodian leaders have repeatedly said the move was to prevent further military clashes. Hun Manet said Tuesday evening that he wanted to maintain "peace and good cooperation" with Thailand. "Filing a complaint at the ICJ to resolve the dispute peacefully is our best option to keep friendship and good cooperation with Thailand," he said. Cambodia on Tuesday banned imports of Thai fruit and vegetables after Bangkok refused to lift border crossing restrictions imposed in recent days. Cambodia has also banned Thai dramas from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand. Hun Manet said Tuesday that a return to normality depended on the Thai authorities. "The ball is in the hands of (the) Thai side, Thai military," he added. Thailand says it wants a negotiated solution and has urged Cambodia to stop "unofficial" communication - an apparent reference to fiery interventions by Hun Sen, who stepped down in 2023 but still wields great influence. The border row dates back to the drawing of the countries' 800km frontier in the early 20th century during the French occupation of Indochina. Cambodia has previously sought help from the ICJ in a territorial dispute over a border temple. In 1962, the court ruled that the disputed Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia, and in 2013, the ICJ awarded an area next to the temple to Cambodia as well. Thailand said it did not accept the court's jurisdiction.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cambodia bans Thai fruit, vegetables in border spat
Cambodia has previously sought help from the ICJ in a territorial dispute over a border temple. (AFP pic) PHNOM PENH : Cambodia on Tuesday banned imports of fruit and vegetables from Thailand as the two countries face off over a border dispute that led to a bloody military clash last month. One Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian armies both said they acted in self-defence. Thailand has imposed border restrictions with Cambodia in recent days, while Cambodia banned Thai dramas from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand. On Monday, Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen Monday issued an ultimatum to Thailand to lift border crossing restrictions within 24 hours or face a ban on all Thai fruit and vegetable imports. Cambodian authorities said Tuesday their Thai counterparts still imposed the border restrictions, and Hun Sen's ultimatum took effect. 'We have implemented the ban on imports of Thai fruit and vegetables since this morning,' Sok Veasna, director general of the general department of immigration, told AFP. He said visitors could still cross the border between the two countries. Cambodia has formally asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help resolve the border dispute in four areas – the site of last month's clash and three ancient temples. Hun Sen said on Monday that his country had to go to the ICJ because Cambodia wanted 'peace' as the two countries would never reach an agreement in the four areas. Hun Sen also called on tens of thousands of Cambodian migrants working in Thailand to return home, saying they would face increasing discrimination as the border spat drags on. The row dates back to the drawing of the countries' 800km frontier in the early 20th century during the French occupation of Indochina. Cambodia has previously sought help from the ICJ in a territorial dispute over a border temple. In 1962, the court ruled then the disputed Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia and in 2013, the ICJ awarded an area next to the temple to Cambodia too. Thailand said it did not accept the court's jurisdiction. Violence sparked by the dispute has led to 28 deaths in the region since 2008.
