Latest news with #HunMany
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Cambodia bans fruit imports and soap operas from Thailand as border dispute sours
Cambodia has banned imports of fruit and vegetables from Thailand, the latest escalation in a series of retaliatory actions sparked by a long-running border dispute between the South-east Asian neighbours. Tensions flared in May when troops briefly exchanged fire at a contested area of the border, killing a Cambodian soldier. The incident has led to a surge in nationalist sentiment and tit-for-tat actions by both governments. Thailand has imposed border restrictions with Cambodia in recent days, while Cambodia has banned Thai films from TV and cinemas, closed a border checkpoint, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand. Both countries have shortened visas stays for visitors for one another's citizens. A ban on imports of Thai fruit and vegetables to Cambodia came into effect on Tuesday. This follows an ultimatum by Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen, who ran the country for almost four decades before handing over to his son in 2023, who said those imports would be blocked unless Thai border restrictions were lifted. On Wednesday, tens of thousands of Cambodians, carrying national flags and pictures of the country's leaders, took to the streets of Phnom Penh for an official rally to support the government's stance. The deputy prime minister, Hun Many, brother of the prime minister, told the crowd 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 resolve the border dispute. However, Thailand does not accept the court's jurisdiction and has said it prefers to solve the matter through direct negotiations. The long-running dispute dates back more than a century, to when France, which occupied Cambodia until 1953, first mapped the land border. The dispute has, over the years, has repeatedly fanned nationalist sentiments in both countries. In 2003, rioters torched the Thai embassy and Thai businesses in Phnom Penh after a Thai celebrity allegedly questioned the jurisdiction over Cambodia's World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple. Tensions flared most recently in 2011 when an estimated 28 people were killed, and tens of thousands displaced by fighting at the border. The Thai and Cambodian armies both said they acted in self-defence in May's exchange of fire. Cambodia has asked the ICJ to rule on four areas of the disputed border. This includes Mom Bei or Chong Bok, an area where the borders of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos meet, and which was the site of last month's clash, as well as three ancient temples. 'The royal government of Cambodia will undertake this task with strong determination and high responsibility to protect our territorial integrity and the best interest of the Cambodian people,' prime minister Hun Manet said in a statement earlier this week. Hun Manet has added that he wanted to maintain 'peace and good cooperation' with Thailand. Cambodia has previously referred the dispute to the ICJ, and in 1962, the court ruled that Preah Vihear, an 11th century Hindu temple, was Cambodian, though it did not rule on the area surrounding it. Cambodia sought a clarification of the ruling in 2011, and in 2013, the ICJ verdict stated that an area next to the temple was also Cambodia. Thailand's prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has said the government is committed to protecting Thailand's sovereignty, and ensuring peace along the border. She has criticised 'unprofessional communication', in an apparent reference to frequent social media statements by the former leader Hun Sen.
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Cambodian govt 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 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-defence. 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. Long-running row 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 at 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-kilometre (500-mile) 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.
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Thousands of Cambodians join government rally as border dispute with Thailand intensifies
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, June 18 (Reuters) - Thousands of Cambodians joined a state-organised march in its capital on Wednesday to support the government in an ongoing border dispute with Thailand triggered by the death of a Cambodian soldier last month. The two neighbours share an 820-km (510-mile) land border, parts of which are undemarcated and include ancient temples that both sides have contested for decades. The rally comes days after officials held talks in Phnom Penh in a bid to ease tensions. Though talks were inconclusive, both sides pledge to continue dialogue. Marchers shouted slogans, waved the Cambodian flag and held portraits of the Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, the influential former Prime Minister Hun Sen. Monks and students were seen at the rally, led by deputy premier Hun Many, the prime minister's brother. "Cambodia's land! We won't take others' land, we keep our land!" some chanted. On Wednesday, Cambodia's defence ministry said that Thailand had again violated its sovereignty. "Thailand has increased activities in the area, including drone flights, trench digging, and troop deployments along the border," the statement said. Thailand rejected the accusation. "These trenches are located well within Thai sovereign territory, and therefore, we refute any allegation that we violated the MOU 2000," foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said, referring to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2000 aimed at resolving border disputes. "Thailand has not increased activities in the area along the border," he added. Although both governments have pledged to calm nationalist fervour and handle the issue through dialogue, Bangkok has tightened its borders and threatened to cut off electricity supplies to its neighbour. Phnom Penh announced it would cease buying Thai electric power, internet bandwidth and produce. It has also ordered local television stations not to screen Thai films. On the weekend, Cambodia said it had brought the four disputed areas to the International Court of Justice. Thailand has repeatedly said it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction and would only use bilateral mechanisms, with the next meeting slated for September. Cambodia has twice successfully sought ICJ resolutions, in 1962 on the ownership of the disputed 11th-century Hindu Preah Vihear temple and in 2013, after it sought clarification of jurisdiction of the land around the temple. Tensions escalated in 2008 over Preah Vihear, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, some during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Both countries have for more than a century contested sovereignty at undemarcated points along their shared border, which was mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony.
Japan Times
a day 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
a day 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.
