Latest news with #borderTensions
Washington Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Thai prime minister visits border with Cambodia after leaked conversation triggers resignation calls
BANGKOK — Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the border with Cambodia on Friday as she faced resignation calls following a leaked phone call between her and Cambodia's former leader discussing recent border tensions. 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.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Thai prime minister visits border with Cambodia after leaked conversation triggers resignation calls
Thailan d's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the border with Cambodia on Friday as she faced resignation calls following a leaked phone call between her and Cambodia's former leader discussing recent border tensions. 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.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Leaked call between Thai PM and Cambodia ‘strongman' stokes tensions
BANGKOK, Phnom Penh: Relations between Thailand and Cambodia suffered a major blow on Wednesday after a leak of a telephone conversation between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and influential former Cambodian Premier Hun Sen that could further escalate tensions. Ties between the two neighbors are at their worst in more than a decade after a row over border territory that has sparked fears of a military confrontation following a sharp rise in nationalist rhetoric and the mobilization of troops on both sides of their frontier. The leaked June 15 phone call, which has been confirmed as authentic by both Hun Sen and Paetongtarn, shows the Thai premier telling Hun Sen, whom she called uncle, that she is under domestic pressure and urging him not to listen to 'the opposite side' which includes a prominent Thai military commander at the border. 'He 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, referring to the general. Paetongtarn later told reporters her conversation with Hun Sen was part of a negotiation tactic and she has 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. Hun Sen said the leak came from one of the 80 politicians he shared the audio recording with. Self-styled strongman Hun Sen was Cambodia's premier for nearly four decades and has maintained a high public profile since handing over power in 2023 to his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet. The two governments had until recently enjoyed warm ties, helped by the close relationship between Hun Sen and Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn's influential father. Both former leaders are still active in politics. Fierce rhetoric The leak could put that relationship in jeopardy and will add to speculation in Thailand that Paetongtarn and the powerful Thai military are at odds on how to respond to the border crisis with Cambodia. Cambodia's rhetoric has become more fierce in the past week, with Hun Sen blaming Thai 'extremists' and the Thai army for stoking tensions, saying Paetongtarn's government was 'unable to control its military the way our country can.' The billionaire Shinawatra family has a troubled history with the army, with two of its governments ousted by generals in coups in 2006 and 2014. Lt. Gen. Boonsin Padklang, commander of Thailand's Second Army Area overseeing the eastern border, on Wednesday told local media that Paetongtarn had called him to explain the leak. 'I don't have any issue, I understand,' Boonsin said. The weeks-long standoff followed a brief border skirmish on May 28 that left a Cambodian soldier dead. Both countries have called for calm while vowing to defend their sovereignty over contested stretches of a 820-km (510-mile) land border, parts of which are undemarcated. Attempts to settle the issue have failed, with Cambodia on Sunday delivering on its vow to seek resolution at the International Court of Justice, the jurisdiction of which Thailand says it does not recognize. On Wednesday, Cambodia's defense ministry said Thailand had again violated its sovereignty with drone flights, trench digging and troop deployments, which Bangkok rejected. Thousands of Cambodians joined a state-organized march in the capital Phnom Penh on Wednesday to support the government, shouting slogans, waving national flags and holding portraits of Hun Manet and Hun Sen. 'Cambodia's land! We won't take others' land, we keep our land!' some chanted.
CNA
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Leaked call between Thai PM and Cambodia 'strongman' stokes fresh tensions
BANGKOK: Relations between Thailand and Cambodia suffered a major blow on Wednesday (Jun 18) after a leak of a telephone conversation between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and influential former Cambodian premier Hun Sen that could further escalate tensions. Ties between the two neighbours are at their worst in more than a decade after a row over border territory that has sparked fears of a military confrontation, following a sharp rise in nationalist rhetoric and the mobilisation of troops on both sides of their frontier. The leaked Jun 15 phone call, which has been confirmed as authentic by both Hun Sen and Paetongtarn, shows the Thai premier telling Hun Sen, whom she called uncle, that she is under domestic pressure and urging him not to listen to "the opposite side" which includes a prominent Thai military commander at the border. "He just wants 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, referring to the general. Paetongtarn later told reporters her conversation with Hun Sen was part of a negotiation tactic, and she has 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. Hun Sen said the leak came from one of the 80 politicians he shared the audio recording with. Self-styled strongman Hun Sen was Cambodia's premier for nearly four decades and has maintained a high public profile since handing over power in 2023 to his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet. The two governments had until recently enjoyed warm ties, helped by the close relationship between Hun Sen and Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn's influential father. Both former leaders are still active in politics. FIERCE RHETORIC The leak could put that relationship in jeopardy and will add to speculation in Thailand that Paetongtarn and the powerful Thai military are at odds on how to respond to the border crisis with Cambodia. Cambodia's rhetoric has become fiercer in the past week, with Hun Sen blaming Thai "extremists" and the Thai army for stoking tensions, saying Paetongtarn's government was "unable to control its military the way our country can". The billionaire Shinawatra family has a troubled history with the army, with two of its governments ousted by generals in coups in 2006 and 2014. Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, commander of Thailand's Second Army Area overseeing the eastern border, on Wednesday told local media that Paetongtarn had called him to explain the leak. "I don't have any issue, I understand," Boonsin said. The weeks-long standoff followed a brief border skirmish on May 28 that left a Cambodian soldier dead. Both countries have called for calm while vowing to defend their sovereignty over contested stretches of a 820km land border, parts of which are undemarcated. Attempts to settle the issue have failed, with Cambodia on Sunday delivering on its vow to seek resolution at the International Court of Justice, the jurisdiction of which Thailand says it does not recognise. On Wednesday, Cambodia's defence ministry said Thailand had again violated its sovereignty with drone flights, trench digging and troop deployments, which Bangkok rejected. Thousands of Cambodians joined a state-organised march in the capital Phnom Penh on Wednesday to support the government, shouting slogans, waving national flags and holding portraits of Hun Manet and Hun Sen.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Cambodia threatens Thai fruits ban as tensions over border disputes continue to soar
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia on Monday said it would stop importing Thai fruits and vegetables if Thailand refused to lift border restrictions imposed following a deadly clash in one of the disputed areas between the two countries. An armed confrontation at the border on May 28 left one Cambodian soldier dead . The incident, which each side blamed on the other, reportedly took place in a relatively small 'no man's land' along their border that both countries claim as their own. Cambodian and Thai authorities have engaged in saber-rattling since last week, and continue to implement or threaten measures short of armed force, keeping tensions high. Thailand has added restrictions at border crossings, and Cambodia has banned Thai movies and TV shows and implemented a boycott of the neighboring country's international internet links. Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, the former prime minister, said in a televised speech Monday that the ban on Thai fruits and vegetables would take effect if Thailand doesn't lift the border restrictions by Tuesday. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra later said Thailand decided to impose the border restrictions out of safety concerns for the citizens of both countries due to the heavier presence of armed forces along the areas. She also said any 'unprofessional communication' that was conveyed outside a bilateral mechanism would only hurt the interests of both sides. Officials of the two countries met over the weekend in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, on the conflicting territorial claims that led to last month's deadly confrontation. While both sides said the meeting was held in a good atmosphere, it appears no major breakthrough was achieved to resolve the current spat. Cambodia on Sunday said it has officially submitted a request to the U.N.'s International Court of Justice, seeking a resolution to the ongoing border disputes with Thailand in four areas. The Cambodia's State Secretariat of Border Affairs said after the weekend meetings concluded that Cambodia would no longer discuss these areas under the bilateral mechanism of the two countries. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday that it was deeply disappointed that Cambodia refused to address the disputes through the existing mechanism and reiterated that Thailand does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. Both however agreed to participate in the next round of meetings on border issues to be hosted by Thailand in September. Much of their war of words has appeared intended to mollify nationalistic critics on both sides of the border. In Thailand, the elected government of Prime Minister Paetongtarn has been attacked by right-wing nationalists who are longtime foes of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. There is a long history to the territorial disputes between the two countries. Thailand is still rankled by a 1962 ICJ ruling that awarded Cambodia the disputed territory where the historic Preah Vihear temple stands . There were sporadic though serious clashes there in 2011. The ruling was reaffirmed in 2013. ——- Associated Press writer Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok contributed to this report.
