(Phnom Penh/Bangkok, 26th) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet accused Thailand of launching an economic war against Cambodia, emphasizing that Phnom Penh is ready to fight to the end.
The Khmer Times reported that on Monday (June 23), Hun Manet made remarks regarding the border dispute with Thailand during the closing ceremony of the Central Committee meeting of the Cambodian Youth Union Association.
He said that Thailand is exerting unnecessary pressure on Cambodia by cutting off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies, as well as unilaterally closing the border to carry out economic coercion. "Thailand is using three strategies to pressure Cambodia: inciting nationalist sentiment, using the economy as a weapon, and displaying military equipment."
He criticized that the Thai side claimed that cutting off electricity and internet was to combat online scams in border areas, but the real goal was to damage Cambodia’s international image and portray Cambodia as a center for scam activities.
Cambodian socio-economic researcher Chea Chhim analyzed to the Khmer Times that the Thai government is leveraging bilateral trade, outbound tourism, and public services to try to force Phnom Penh to withdraw its lawsuit to the International Court of Justice over the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn has repeatedly emphasized that the measures taken by the authorities are not for political gain, but in response to national security threats, especially to combat transnational crime activities in the Thai-Cambodian border areas.
On Tuesday (24th), regarding the closure of Thai-Cambodian border checkpoints, she said that Thai authorities have taken measures to provide support for those affected, including farmers and merchants.
The Thai government spokesperson said that Paetongtarn will visit Sa Kaeo Province in eastern Thailand on Thursday (26th), which borders Cambodia, to inspect operations against online scam activities in the Poipet area of Cambodia and to boost morale for the Thai soldiers stationed at the border and local residents.
The Thai-Cambodian border dispute has flared up following the leak of an audio recording of a phone conversation between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, plunging Paetongtarn into a political crisis at home and further worsening Thai-Cambodian relations.
Hun Sen, who is President of the Cambodian Senate and father of current Prime Minister Hun Manet, posted on Facebook on Tuesday, stating that his Facebook account was hacked and harassed by people directed by Bangkok leaders, aiming to shift focus from Thailand’s internal conflicts to hostility towards Cambodia.
He also said that infighting within Thailand is difficult to resolve and predicted that there will be a new Thai Prime Minister within the next three months. He claims to know who the new prime minister will be, but refused to reveal it, saying he wanted to "leave some suspense."
When questioned by the media on Wednesday, Paetongtarn refused to respond to Hun Sen’s remarks. She also declined to comment on the Bhumjaithai Party, which has left the governing coalition and plans to propose a no-confidence motion against her in parliament.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert stated that Hun Sen’s remarks were politically motivated and lacked factual basis.
The Khmer Times reported that on Monday (June 23), Hun Manet made remarks regarding the border dispute with Thailand during the closing ceremony of the Central Committee meeting of the Cambodian Youth Union Association.
He said that Thailand is exerting unnecessary pressure on Cambodia by cutting off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies, as well as unilaterally closing the border to carry out economic coercion. "Thailand is using three strategies to pressure Cambodia: inciting nationalist sentiment, using the economy as a weapon, and displaying military equipment."
He criticized that the Thai side claimed that cutting off electricity and internet was to combat online scams in border areas, but the real goal was to damage Cambodia’s international image and portray Cambodia as a center for scam activities.
Cambodian socio-economic researcher Chea Chhim analyzed to the Khmer Times that the Thai government is leveraging bilateral trade, outbound tourism, and public services to try to force Phnom Penh to withdraw its lawsuit to the International Court of Justice over the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn has repeatedly emphasized that the measures taken by the authorities are not for political gain, but in response to national security threats, especially to combat transnational crime activities in the Thai-Cambodian border areas.
On Tuesday (24th), regarding the closure of Thai-Cambodian border checkpoints, she said that Thai authorities have taken measures to provide support for those affected, including farmers and merchants.
The Thai government spokesperson said that Paetongtarn will visit Sa Kaeo Province in eastern Thailand on Thursday (26th), which borders Cambodia, to inspect operations against online scam activities in the Poipet area of Cambodia and to boost morale for the Thai soldiers stationed at the border and local residents.
The Thai-Cambodian border dispute has flared up following the leak of an audio recording of a phone conversation between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, plunging Paetongtarn into a political crisis at home and further worsening Thai-Cambodian relations.
Hun Sen, who is President of the Cambodian Senate and father of current Prime Minister Hun Manet, posted on Facebook on Tuesday, stating that his Facebook account was hacked and harassed by people directed by Bangkok leaders, aiming to shift focus from Thailand’s internal conflicts to hostility towards Cambodia.
He also said that infighting within Thailand is difficult to resolve and predicted that there will be a new Thai Prime Minister within the next three months. He claims to know who the new prime minister will be, but refused to reveal it, saying he wanted to "leave some suspense."
When questioned by the media on Wednesday, Paetongtarn refused to respond to Hun Sen’s remarks. She also declined to comment on the Bhumjaithai Party, which has left the governing coalition and plans to propose a no-confidence motion against her in parliament.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert stated that Hun Sen’s remarks were politically motivated and lacked factual basis.