Hun Sen, the powerful leader of Cambodia, broadcasts his livestream allegedly violating the country's laws
Loose Cannon: Hun Sen, Cambodia's Senate president, stirred the pot with a livestream broadcast filled with accusations and thinly-veiled threats against Thailand, according to Thailand's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Russ Jalichandra.
Jalichandra slammed Sen for trying to destabilize the Thai government, pointing out that the senator's call for regime change crossed the line when it comes to international law and ASEAN principles. He urged Cambodian authorities to put an end to the criminal shenanigans happening within their borders, a claim backed by organizations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Amnesty International, who’ve labeled Cambodia as a global hotspot for illicit activities.
Jalichandra made it clear that Thailand had no obligations to step in and defend Cambodia's reputation due to Sen's broadcast. He also hinted that Sen might have had some political motives for his verbal jabs, aiming to help certain factions inside Thailand.
The tension between the countries has been simmering, and Sen's livestream did little to quell the fire. In the broadcast, he lobbed a series of accusations against the Thai government and key political figures, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul.
Officials in Thailand have remained fairly mum on the matter, only reiterating the importance of diplomacy, composure, and peacefully maintaining ties with Cambodia, especially amid ongoing border disputes.
However, some critics claim the government's response has fallen flat, particularly when you consider the massive demonstrations taking place in Thailand, with protesters calling for the prime minister's resignation in response to her phone call with Sen.
In a Facebook post, former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn called on the government to respond to Sen's statements officially to preserve public trust. Somchai argued that as Sen continues to hold significant influence over Cambodian politics, his words should carry official weight rather than being viewed as mere opinions.
Somchai harshly criticized Sen's call for regime change as a clear breach of diplomatic etiquette and a blatant attempt to interfere with Thailand's internal affairs—especially as the comments were presented as a means to mend relations between the two countries.
Somchai also slammed Sen's claim that Cambodia had aided fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra with her travels to Malaysia and Singapore, stating that such actions would break Thai law.
Although no statements directly violated Thailand's lese-majeste law, Somchai pointed out that several remarks made during the livestream could be interpreted as threats, such as Sen's assertion that Cambodia has weapons capable of launching missiles directly at Bangkok.
He urged the government to be more assertive in its stance against Cambodia.
- The escalating war-and-conflicts and politics between Thailand and Cambodia are further highlighted by Hun Sen's livestream, as his accusations and threats against Thailand's government raise concerns about crime-and-justice and diplomatic breaches.
- In the midst of general-news headlines revolving around Cambodia's international law violations, political motives, and ASEAN principles, former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has called for a more proactive approach to crime-and-justice, urging Thailand to take stronger steps against Sen's alleged threats and interference in Thailand's internal affairs.
