Cambodians rally over Thai border spat as leaders row over leaked call

The Star

5 hours ago

A massive crowd joined a 'Solidarity March' to support Cambodia's government and troops stationed on the border with Thailand. - Photo: AFP
PHNOM PENH: Tens of thousands of Cambodians took part Wednesday (June 18) in a government rally over a border spat with Thailand, as a leaked phone call between leaders triggered a fresh row.
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.
Despite weekend talks between the two sides, the stand-off shows little sign of abating, and on Wednesday a new spat blew up after a recording of a call on Sunday between Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was leaked online.
Paetongtarn accused Hun Sen of deliberately leaking a private conversation and said he had damaged trust between the two sides.
"It is clear now that his intention was to gain domestic popularity, without caring about the effect on international relations," she told reporters in Bangkok.
"We talked for peace without realising that it would be used as part of his plan to boost his popularity."
Carrying Cambodian flags and portraits of Mr Hun Manet and his father, former leader Hun Sen, supporters marched to the Independence Monument in the heart of the capital. - Photo: AFP
Hun Sen stepped down in 2023 after ruling Cambodia with an iron fist for nearly four decades, but he still wields considerable influence with his son's government.
He insisted he had not leaked the nine-minute recording that was posted online, but said he had shared it with "approximately 80 individuals" including lawmakers, party officials and members of the armed forces.
Later Hun Sen posted the full 17-minute recording on his official Facebook page.
In the recording posted online, the two leaders discuss restrictions imposed on border crossings after the border clash, as well as troop deployments.
- Fruit and veg ban -
Hun Many told the crowd in Phnom Penh 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.
The standoff has led to Cambodia on Tuesday banning imports of Thai fruit and vegetables after Bangkok refused to lift border crossing restrictions imposed in recent days.
People taking part in a solidarity march in Phnom Penh to suport the Cambodian government's actions in its recent border dispute with Thailand, on June 18. - Photo: AFP
And last week Cambodia banned Thai dramas from TV and cinemas, as well as closing a popular border checkpoint, and cutting internet bandwidth from Thailand.
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.
Thai foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura reiterated Bangkok's view that the two sides should resolve the matter together, rather than at the ICJ.
"Thailand remains to committed to use the bilateral mechanism to resolve border issues with Cambodia with sincerity and in good faith," he told reporters.
"This is in line with an international norms and practices."
The border row dates back to the drawing of the countries' 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier in the early 20th century during the French occupation of Indochina.
Violence sparked by the dispute has led to at least 28 deaths in the region since 2008. - AFP