As tensions escalated at the Thai-Cambodian border, a recording spread wildly online, with Hun Sen personally acknowledging that these words were indeed spoken by Pheung Thongtan. The Thai political landscape changed overnight, and Pheung Thongtan would have to pay for what he said.

Pheung Thongtan and Hun Sen

Recently, a recording of a high-level call between Thailand and Cambodia has been widely circulated on social media. The two parties in the conversation were Thai Prime Minister Pheung Thongtan and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. As is well known, in recent times, relations between Thailand and Cambodia have deteriorated significantly due to border disputes. After both governments exchanged harsh words, hostility among the public also intensified, with conflict showing signs of escalation.

At this time of heightened tension, their conversation was likely aimed at discussing the matter. However, this recording plunged Pheung Thongtan into a whirlwind of public opinion. In the call, Pheung Thongtan affectionately referred to Hun Sen as "uncle," stating that the border conflicts were not the intention of the Thai government, frankly admitting that "the military does not follow government orders," and describing the Second Military Region Commander Bunthang as a "madman" and an "enemy of the government."

Pheung Thongtan repeatedly pleaded with Hun Sen during the call to help ease the situation. Hun Sen responded by expressing his understanding of Pheung Thongtan's difficult circumstances but stated that he could not make concessions, urging Thailand to solve its own issues.

Anti-Thai protests erupted in Cambodia

This statement exposed long-standing military-political rifts within Thailand. The Thai military has historically operated independently from civilian government, controlling the decision-making process regarding borders. Thailand has experienced 13 military coups throughout its modern history, and Pheung Thongtan’s aunt, the Yingluck government, was overthrown by the military.

Regardless of whether Pheung Thongtan's remarks were intended to placate Cambodian anger or genuinely expressed dissatisfaction with the military, once the recording became public, it became difficult for him to explain. Worse still, Hun Sen himself confirmed that the content of the recording was genuine and even expressed willingness to disclose the entire 17-minute, 6-second call.

In such a situation, Pheung Thongtan had no chance to conceal anything. He immediately admitted that the words were indeed his, but claimed they were merely negotiation tactics and not genuine dissatisfaction with the military. Pheung Thongtan accused Hun Sen of deliberately leaking the recording to boost his reputation during the conflict and to sow discord within Thailand.

Thailand's second largest party

Although it remains unclear whether the recording was leaked by the Cambodian government, Thailand has indeed seen a "splitting" effect—though not within the military but within the government. Thailand's second-largest party, Palang Pracharat Party, announced its withdrawal from the government, taking 69 parliamentary seats with it. Although the Pheu Thai Party still controls a majority in parliament, this means that governing will face more obstacles in the future.

More importantly, Thai netizens criticized Pheung Thongtan for "begging Hun Sen" for damaging national dignity. The Army Headquarters electronic screen scrolled through images of Bunthang in support. The leader of the opposition party questioned how the prime minister could lead the country if he considered the army as an "opponent." Pheung Thongtan's approval ratings plummeted overnight, and calls from Thai politicians for her resignation grew louder.

Pheung Thongtan declared that she would never privately speak with Hun Sen again, marking the failure of the decades-old informal mediation mechanism between the two countries. Previously, Hun Sen had a close relationship with Pheung Thongtan’s father, Thaksin, and had resolved many crises through private channels. Meanwhile, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hun Manet, Hun Sen’s second son, initiated a rally involving tens of thousands against Thailand. People burned images of Pheung Thongtan, and both countries' consulates entered a state of high alert.

Pheung Thongtan and Bunthang

If Cambodia releases the full recording later, it may spark further controversy. Pheung Thongtan now faces not only the challenge of gaining the trust and loyalty of the military, calming domestic public anger, and consolidating her ruling position, but also preventing further escalation of tensions between the two countries.

It must be said that if it was indeed Cambodia that intentionally leaked the call content, then Hun Sen's move has effectively cornered Pheung Thongtan. It proves that family politics cannot resolve modern national contradictions. Without institutionalized checks and balances, an "elected government" is ultimately a puppet of the military. Whether Pheung Thongtan can resolve her governance crisis remains uncertain.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7517541375399805477/

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