Cambodia’s ruling party leader Hun Sen has described Thai ultra-nationalists claiming Cambodian territory as “Siamese thieves” and urged them not to use what he called “self-drawn stolen maps” to justify their claims. He instead called for recognition of the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siam treaties and the associated annexed maps as the proper legal basis for any border discussion.
In a post published today on his official Facebook page, Hun Sen, who now serves as President of the Senate, said the current border tensions with Thailand are a result of internal political conflict within Thailand. He claimed that despite attempts by some Thai groups to escalate tensions with Cambodia, their own internal struggle for power remains unresolved.
Hun Sen predicted that Thailand will see a new prime minister within three months, adding that he already knows who that person will be, though he declined to reveal the name.
He went on to say that he had recently posted photos of his three sons to see how the so-called “land thieves” might attempt to disrupt his Facebook page. He claimed that the nature of the disruptions suggests that those involved are operating under direct orders from their leadership in Bangkok.
The Cambodian leader further alleged that these groups are not only attempting to seize Cambodian land but are also targeting his social media accounts. He urged them to focus instead on resolving Thailand’s internal political issues, rather than stirring up conflict with Cambodia.
Hun Sen claimed that the coordinated disruption of his Facebook activity is a result of anger from Thai leadership in response to his online statements. He said the reaction shows the extent to which some in Thailand’s leadership are displeased by his remarks.
Following Hun Sen’s post, a Facebook user named Detchai Sanporn commented that France and Thailand had once clashed violently over Indochina territory in 1940. The commenter argued that if Cambodia uses French-era data that Thailand does not recognize in its claims, it would be a “foolish” move by the Cambodian leadership. The comment went on to say that “a foolish person should not hold power.”
Despite these online exchanges, Hun Sen has previously stated that taking the border issue to the International Court of Justice is the most peaceful and lawful solution, demonstrating what he called Cambodia’s commitment to justice and international norms.
Cambodia submitted its case against Thailand to the International Court in mid-June. However, Thailand has reportedly refused to accept the Court’s jurisdiction in the matter and has instead proposed bilateral negotiations as a way forward in resolving the border dispute.
