A leaked audio recording appears to show Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra asking former Cambodian leader Hun Sen to help ease rising tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, reportedly out of concern that Thailand’s military could stage a coup.
According to political observers in Cambodia, the conversation highlights an unusual request from a sitting head of government for regional assistance in calming internal pressures. Speaking to The Cambodia Daily on Tuesday, June 18, Man Nath, head of the Cambodian Watchdog Council, said the exchange suggests Prime Minister Paetongtarn feared instability from the Thai armed forces if the border dispute escalated.
He noted that Hun Sen appeared motivated by a desire to maintain peace between the two nations and to avoid a crisis that could harm Thailand’s civilian government. Man Nath added that while he did not call on Hun Sen to intervene directly in Thailand’s internal affairs, he hoped Cambodia could help safeguard the welfare of Khmer nationals living and working in Thailand, as well as the general well being of Cambodians at home.
The watchdog leader also emphasized that the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border dispute should not affect ordinary citizens. He argued the matter must be resolved through legal mechanisms, including at the International Court of Justice, where Cambodia has already submitted a case.
The nine-minute audio clip surfaced on Facebook earlier in the day. It reportedly captures a telephone conversation between Hun Sen and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, focusing on how to defuse tensions over their shared border.
In the recording, Paetongtarn is heard urging Hun Sen not to heed the views of Boonsin Padklang, commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region. She describes him as an opponent of the Thai civilian government and alleges he is stoking conflict.
Paetongtarn also appeals to Hun Sen to help reopen the border crossings through negotiation, stating that escalating tensions have fueled domestic criticism. Some citizens, she says, have even called on her to go govern Cambodia instead.
In response, Hun Sen is heard assuring the Thai leader that if Cambodia did not reopen its side of the border within five hours of Thailand doing so, he would take full personal responsibility. The remark underscores the urgency both leaders appear to feel about containing the situation.
Hun Sen confirmed the authenticity of the call in a Facebook post on June 18, stating that the conversation took place on June 15 and lasted 17 minutes and six seconds. He defended his decision to record the call, saying it was standard practice to ensure transparency within Cambodia’s own institutions.
The former prime minister said he had shared the audio with around 80 senior officials for documentation. He speculated that someone from that circle may have leaked the file, especially after Paetongtarn publicly accused Cambodian leaders of acting unprofessionally in the ongoing dispute.
Thai media outlet Khaosod reported on the same day that Prime Minister Paetongtarn had criticized Hun Sen for making the private conversation public. She claimed the call was personal and not intended for release, and that the leak could damage relations between her government and Thailand’s powerful military.
She further alleged that Hun Sen may be seeking to build public support for his son, current Prime Minister Hun Manet, by portraying Cambodian leadership in a favorable light amid the crisis.
As tensions simmer, the diplomatic fallout from the leak adds a new layer of complexity to a border dispute that has long plagued relations between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
