Hun Sen, Cambodia's leader, labels two rooms at his residence after Thaksin and Yingluck, the former Thai Prime Minister and her sister.
Hun Sen, Cambodia's Ex-Prime Minister, Renames Rooms After Thai Counterparts, Triggering a Political Storm
Hun Sen, now the Senate president, named two rooms in his residence, the Thaksin Room and the Yingluck Room, in honor of their visits to Cambodia. This revelation surfaced in a Facebook post on Friday, coupled with a private dinner with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her husband during her official visit to Cambodia in April.
The Thai Prime Minister took keen interest, requesting to see the rooms where her father and aunt had once stayed. Having preserved these rooms as a memento, Hun Sen obliged, allowing photographs and videos to be taken.
The curios incident followed a contentious conversation between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen that stirred a political furor in Thailand. According to Hun Sen, a 30-year-old relationship between the two families came to an end due to a leak of this phone conversation by a Cambodian official.
However, Hun Sen denied leaking the conversation, instead blaming a "Cambodian official" trying to shield him and his son, current Prime Minister Hun Manet, from being branded unprofessional. Tensions between the families have been further inflamed amidst ongoing border disputes.
Tangled Ties Frayed
The Thai border has seen a series of escalating clashes, causing bilateral relations to strain. In the leaked phone conversation, Paetongtarn is reported to have addressed Hun Sen as "Uncle" and promised to assist in any way possible, while criticizing a Thai army commander responsible for the disputed region.
Paetongtarn's remarks raised eyebrows within the Thai military and opposition parties, who called for her resignation. In response, the Bhumjaithai party, a major coalition partner, withdrew from the government, claiming Paetongtarn's handling of the border crisis and the leaked call had undermined Thailand's position.
The rupture in relations between the two families goes deeper than mere politics. Historically, Hun Sen has supported the Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra administrations during Thailand's political turmoil, even naming rooms in his residence for them. The revelation of the leaked conversation, therefore, not only jeopardized the political relationship but also severely damaged a longstanding personal bond[1][2].
[1] Snitwongse, T. (2021, June 14). Thai PM during leaked call showed deferential stance towards Cambodia's Hun Sen. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/leaked-call-shows-thai-pm-showing-deferential-stance-towards-cambodian-hun-sen-2021-06-14/
[2] Anderson, S. (2021, June 16). Thaksin Shinawatra slams Cambodia's Hun Sen over leaked phone call. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/se-asia/article/3136922/thaksin-shinawatra-slams-cambodia-hun-sen-over-leaked-phone-call
[3] The Nation. (2021, June 13). Paetongtarn's handling of border crisis led to Bhumjaithai's exit, coalition partner says. The Nation. https://www.nationthailand.com/politics/40405996
[4] Reuters. (2021, June 16). Timeline: Thailand-Cambodia border disputes. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/timeline-thailand-cambodia-border-disputes-2021-06-16/
- The naming of the Thaksin Room and the Yingluck Room in Hun Sen's residence has stirred a political controversy, highlighting the complexity of policy-and-legislation and general-news surrounding the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand.
- The revelation of a leaked phone conversation between Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has not only strained political ties but also severely damaged the personal bond between the two families, adding another layer to the ongoing political-and-legislation debates and general-news events in both countries.
