A Cambodian government spokesperson has pointed out “irrational claims” made by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. On June 23, she claimed that Thailand had decided to cut electricity, internet, and oil and gas supplies to Cambodia, when in fact Cambodia had already shut down these supplies itself. On June 23, Paetongtarn stated that her government had done so to combat cross-border crimes, citing a UNODC report that labelled Cambodia a “global scam hub”. She said the measures implemented included border closures, cutting internet and electricity, and freezing over 680,000 bank accounts linked to illegal activities. Thailand has now closed border…
Author: Niem Chheng
Following Thailand’s recall of its ambassador last week, the ruling Pheu Thai Party stated that Thailand is in the process of downgrading diplomatic relations with Cambodia. Analysts say Cambodia has little choice but to reciprocate. Speaking at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters on Sunday, June 22, deputy spokesperson Khattiya Sawasdipol said Thailand is planning to lower diplomatic ties after a leaked phone conversation between Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate president Hun Sen last week, as reported by Thailand’s The Nation Thailand newspaper. The Pheu Thai Party deemed the recording of the conversation inappropriate, while Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign…
As tensions over border disputes simmer between Thailand and Cambodia, the Cambodian leadership is continuing to urge the citizens of the kingdom not to discriminate against Thai nationals and to maintain their dignity. Thai residents in Cambodia have no reason to be concerned, noted Prime Minister Hun Manet. “Up to this moment, the Khmer people have not looked down on or belittled Thai citizens living and working in Cambodia. I am very grateful to them for upholding such high moral standards. There are some cases [of discrimination] elsewhere, but they are not widespread because there are both good and bad…
Cambodia has imposed the precondition that Thailand re-open the border before any meetings at the military level (RBC) or the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) level can take place, as bilateral relations between the two countries continue to decline, strongly affecting trade ties. Speaking on the morning of June 23, Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that he had instructed the Ministry of National Defence not to hold meetings with Thailand regarding border reopening negotiations until Thailand — whether at the government or military level — reopens the border, which they unilaterally closed. “If we want to negotiate with the military,…
The Ministry of National Defence has warned that Thailand violated an agreement between the armed forces of both countries, which specifies designated times for accessing the Ta Moan Thom Temple. In a statement issued today, June 22, a ministry spokesperson said that at approximately 7.30am, three Thai soldiers led a group of about 150 Thai cyclists into the premises of Ta Moan Thom Temple without prior notification to Cambodian troops. “This action is a clear violation of the agreement between the two parties, which stipulates specific times for temple access from 9am to 3pm. The same agreement also requires that…
Minister of National Defence Tea Seiha has made it clear that Cambodia may not possess fighter jets or warships but has the capability to defend the country, including air defence systems, anti-tank guns and coastal defence weapons. Speaking on the morning of June 20, he said Cambodia has collaborated with friendly partners to upgrade its defence capabilities, not to invade others, and emphasised that Cambodia does not have fighter jets capable of reaching Bangkok. “Thailand post photos of their missiles, fighter jets, large artillery pieces and warships, and weapons for land, sea and air. What does Cambodia have? Let me…
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has shared a concept note on the establishment of the ECCC Legacy Institution, which aims to prevent the recurrence of the genocidal regime and support public education. This dissemination took place on June 19, and was chaired by Vongsey Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, and chairman of the Working Group for Cooperation with the UN and Development Partners for the Implementation of the ECCC’s Residual Functions. The meeting was attended by officials from relevant ministries, Joseph Scheuer, UN coordinator in…
The Thai Foreign Ministry summoned the Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand at 11am today, June 19, to accept a letter of protest regarding the June 18 leaking of a recording of a phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate president Hun Sen. The contents of the call were widely disseminated on social media. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura addressed a noon press conference, describing the leak as “a violation of diplomatic etiquette, a serious breach of trust and damaging to the conduct between the two neighbouring countries”. “Thailand considers these actions unacceptable between states. They contradict…
A recording of part of a June 15 telephone conversation between Senate president Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtar Shinawatra was leaked this morning, with the two discussing ways to ease the tension at the borders, especially lifting border crossing restrictions. Notably, the leak follows an indirect exchange of words between the Thai prime minister and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. Paetongtar accused the Cambodian leadership of “unprofessionally” using Facebook to conduct politics, comments which drew a hard response from Manet on June 17. The 9-minute leaked conversation was a part of a more than 17 minute conversation, and…
Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving ongoing border disputes with Thailand through peaceful means, including appeals to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), amid escalating tensions along their shared frontier. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence issued a statement today detailing recent developments concerning the Ta Moan Thom Temple, Ta Moan Tauch Temple, Ta Krabei Temple, and the Mum Bei area, underscoring the nation’s resolve to uphold peace and sovereignty. On 14-15 June 2025, Cambodia hosted a meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), where both nations agreed on further steps to address the disputes. However, Cambodia has accused…