Amid the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen disclosed the truth about the 2017 escape of former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, confirming that she did indeed leave Thailand via Cambodia before flying to Dubai. Hun Sen further revealed that Yingluck still holds a Cambodian passport.
According to the Khmer Chinese Times, Hun Sen was once questioned in person by former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for assisting Yingluck's escape. He admitted that he was forced to lie due to the circumstances at the time, and before revealing the truth, he specially apologized to Najib. He said that back then, he had attended a wedding in Brunei together with Najib when Najib asked him whether Yingluck had left Thailand via Cambodia. At the time, he replied: “No. Yingluck may have had four options: first, through Cambodia, but we did not receive her; second, through Laos; third, through Myanmar; and fourth, flying directly out of Thailand.”
In this regard, Hun Sen said: “That was my lie, and I apologize to Najib.”
Hun Sen made the above remarks on Friday (the 27th) while inspecting the Cambodia–Thailand border frontline in Preah Vihear Province.
On August 25, 2017, the Thai authorities had originally scheduled a verdict for Yingluck’s “rice negligence case,” but it was postponed due to Yingluck’s absence citing illness. Afterwards, the Thai government confirmed that Yingluck had already escaped Thailand.
The plane came from Singapore to Cambodia to pick up Yingluck
Hun Sen revealed that when Yingluck was facing imprisonment in 2017, her brother, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, personally asked him for help in arranging her departure. He said: “Thaksin asked me for help, and in the end, arrangements were made by the Thai side for her to leave via Cambodia.”
Hun Sen stated that at that time, Yingluck was holding a Cambodian passport, and her car entered Cambodian territory through the Poipet International Border Gate. After that, a plane from Singapore landed at Siem Reap Airport to pick her up. The plane arrived first, then the car reached the airport, and Yingluck immediately boarded the flight to Dubai.
“Yingluck thanked me in tears”
Hun Sen recalled: “After passing through customs, Yingluck called me crying, saying thank you. I really felt sorry for her. She’s gone into exile alone, just for her brother, and is now forced to be in exile again for her niece (current Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra).”
“I originally didn’t want to talk about this, but I have no choice.” Hun Sen emphasized, “We (the Cambodian side) helped to this extent back then.”