Alleged internal documents leaked to The Sunday Guardian suggest a coordinated effort between Cambodian opposition figures in exile and Thailand’s nationalist “Yellow Shirt” movement to destabilise the Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The India-based media outlet said unverified documents, shared anonymously over a month, include an email dated June 15, 2025, allegedly from former opposition deputy president Mu Sochua, now in exile, to Em Piseth, leader of the Global Cambodian Youth Network, based in Thailand.
It said the attached documents was a “Bilateral Action Plan and Chairman’s Instructions” outlining strategies to incite unrest along the Cambodia-Thailand border, particularly in disputed areas like Ta Mone Thom and the Preah Vihear Triangle.
The plan reportedly tasks Thailand’s “Yellow Shirts” with mobilising forces for border disturbances, providing training in violent confrontations, non-violent protests and information warfare.
On the Cambodian side, opposition figures apparently aim to strengthen grassroots networks to challenge the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and exploit territorial disputes to undermine the Hun family’s legitimacy, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the government. The document also calls for establishing activity bases in Thailand and preparing training initiatives.
The leaked email outlined plans to “transform Cambodian–Thai disputes into legitimacy challenges to the Hun Sen family’s rule, aiming to ultimately overthrow it”, according to the Indian media outlet.
Before the outbreak of the armed conflict, Prime Minister Hun Manet warned against ultra-nationalist rhetoric from overseas-based opposition politicians. The leaked documents align with his concerns, suggesting a deliberate strategy to escalate territorial disputes, according to the paper’s reporting.
The Sunday Guardian noted that the authenticity of the documents remains unverified, and that their source remains anonymous. This highlights the complex interplay of nationalist sentiments and exiled opposition activities in Cambodia-Thailand relations, with significant implications for regional security if the allegations are substantiated.
Sochua denied the allegation, saying that she has not shared any documents with Piseth.
“I checked my ‘sent’ emails. Nothing was sent from me to Em Piseth. I also checked my documents. There’s no such document in my records. I can confirm the email did not come from me,” she was quoted as saying.
“As I said earlier, I don’t have this person’s email and I do not have any documents related to the information you provided me. I consider the attachment as fabricated,” she added.
