Amid a border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has revealed inside information, bluntly stating that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin was ‘faking illness’ to avoid imprisonment, and that current Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn was aware and helped conceal the truth.
According to the Khmer Times, on the 27th, Hun Sen—Chairman of the Cambodian Senate and leader of the ruling party—disclosed during an inspection of the Cambodia-Thailand border that as early as February 2024, he had personally traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, to visit Thaksin, who at the time claimed to be ‘ill’, only to find that he was in good health and that the so-called ‘illness’ was entirely feigned.
‘I thought he was really sick, so I flew to Bangkok to see him. But I found that he was not sick at all. He only wore supports when taking photos, then took them off after, and we ate together. The dinner was arranged by Paetongtarn. This was clearly deceiving the Thai courts and the public,’ Hun Sen said.
He stated that he and Thaksin have maintained a brotherly relationship for more than 30 years, but now Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, had betrayed that trust, compelling him to make the truth public.
Hun Sen pointed out that he is not the only one aware of this matter. Others with knowledge or able to testify include his assistant and Phnom Penh Deputy Mayor Kliang Va, current Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn, as well as a Thai national. Should the Thai courts require it, he is willing to provide the relevant witnesses’ names.
‘I apologize for not revealing this to the Thai people earlier. I had kept silent out of personal loyalty, but now that Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn has broken faith, there is no longer any reason to hide it. Don’t be angry with me, Paetongtarn—it was your actions that forced me,’ he added.
Hun Sen emphasized that Thaksin and his daughter colluded to conceal the illness, intending to mislead the courts, which gravely undermines judicial authority and the democratic system. He added that Thaksin has recently been summoned again by the Thai courts to give further explanation about his health condition.
Hun Sen stressed that the Thai side had already noticed Thaksin’s ‘feigned illness’, saying that his statement was merely a ‘supplementary testimony’ and that he was not the first to expose the issue.
‘Always Taken Advantage Of’
Hun Sen emphasized that his over-30-year friendship with Thaksin has finally broken down entirely thanks to the outrageous actions of Paetongtarn. He stated bluntly that he had constantly been ‘taken advantage of’ in his relationship with Thaksin; for years, he had kept silent out of loyalty and personal feeling, but the betrayal of the Thaksin family has left him unable to tolerate it any longer.