Thai PM, former Cambodian leader visit disputed border as tensions simmer

ARANYAPRATHET, Thailand – Thailand’s Prime Minister and Cambodia’s influential former premier were visiting different parts of their disputed border on June 26 as tensions simmered over a territorial row and the Thai government teetered on the brink of collapse.

The deterioration of relations was sparked by

brief armed clashes

in a border area late in May that left one Cambodian soldier dead. 

What followed were a series of tit-for-tat measures by both countries, including troop mobilisations, Cambodia’s suspension of all fuel and gas imports from its neighbour, and the partial closure of checkpoints by Thailand along the 817km land border.

The conflict has added fuel to a crisis facing Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is battling to revive a faltering economy and scrambling to keep a fragile coalition together in the face of protests as well as a

parliamentary no-confidence vote

.

As she arrived on the morning of June 26 at the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo province, opposite Cambodia’s Poipet, she was greeted by a crowd of supporters, with several of them holding a large sign saying “Love You Prime Minister Paetongtarn”.

The Prime Minister said the purpose of her visit was to survey the ongoing crackdown on transnational crime and gauge the impact of border restrictions, which saw Thailand halting all vehicles, tourists and traders from all land border crossings into Cambodia.

“We want to see the impact from this policy and what the government can do to help. This is our main goal for the visit today,” Ms Paetongtarn said in a meeting with officials.

The Thai Prime Minister earlier this week linked the proliferation of illegal online scam centres to Cambodia, but Cambodian authorities have denied involvement.

Human rights group Amnesty International on June 26 accused Cambodia’s government of “deliberately ignoring” abuses by cybercrime gangs who have trafficked people from across the world, including children, into slavery at brutal scam compounds.

Amnesty said in a report that it had identified 53 scam centres and dozens more suspected sites across the country, including in the capital Phnom Penh.

A Cambodian government spokesman said the country rejected allegations of inaction.

Controversial call

At another part of the border, former Cambodian premier Hun Sen visited troops and officials in Oddar Meanchey province, opposite the Thai province of Surin, on the morning of June 26. 

Local media footage showed Mr Hun Sen, in military fatigues, arriving by helicopter and meeting officials in the area.

Mr Hun Sen, president of the country’s Senate and father of incumbent Prime Minister Hun Manet, still wields enormous clout in Cambodian politics.

The veteran Cambodian politician and the Thai Premier until recently enjoyed warm personal ties, helped by the close relationship between Mr Hun Sen and Ms Paetongtarn’s influential father, Thailand’s former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. 

But in a

leaked phone conversation

with Mr Hun Sen, Ms Paetongtarn was heard denigrating a Thai military commander – a red line in a country where the military holds significant clout – piling political pressure on the Thai government.

She has since

apologised over the leaked call,

but the incident was used as a justification by the Bhumjaithai Party to leave the government coalition last week.

Bhumjaithai said earlier this week that it will seek a parliamentary no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Paetongtarn and her Cabinet over the leaked call.

Ms Paetongtarn is also facing judicial scrutiny after a group of senators gave the Constitutional Court and a national anti-graft body a wide remit to investigate her conduct. Decisions from either bodies could lead to her removal.

Anti-government groups are also planning a street protest starting on June 28, demanding her resignation. REUTERS