New Delhi: The decades-old dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has turned into a war. Dozens of people have died on sides and big damages have been caused. The reason behind the war between Thailand and Cambodia may be about the border dispute, but in reality this war is about the rivalry between two dynasties.
What is the incident that triggered the war?
On the first of this month, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra telephoned Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen. During this, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed the Cambodian leader as ‘Uncle’. After this, there was an uproar in Thailand and the country’s constitutional court removed her from the post of Prime Minister.
After this incident, former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra gave a shocking message in a room full of politicians and journalists. He said that ‘his decades-old relationship with Cambodian dictator Hun Sen has ended.’ Thaksin Shinawatra is the father of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was removed from the post of Prime Minister.
What did Thailand’s former PM say about former Cambodian PM?
He announced that “I was very close to him, like brothers. But after what he did to my daughter, I was shocked. How could this happen?” That is, this fight is not just about the border, but is about the rivalry between Thailand’s billionaire leader and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Former Prime Minister Hun Sen. Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter had to resign from the post of Prime Minister of Thailand.
There was a time when the friendship of Thailand’s Thaksin and Cambodia’s Hun Sen was quite famous. It was believed that despite the dispute between the two countries, due to their friendship, there would be no war and regional peace and stability would be maintained. But Thaksin’s daughter’s phone call changed everything. Actually, Hun Sen posted the audio recording of that telephone call on Facebook, in which Paetongtarn was addressing him as “Uncle” and from her style of talking it seemed that she wanted to resolve the dispute by making the conversation emotional.
Hun Sen posts audio recording of telephone call on Facebook
During this, she also ignored the Thailand Army. But as soon as the audio came on Facebook, there was an uproar. Prime Minister Paetongtarn had to resign and her father publicly announced breaking ties with the Cambodian leader. Thaksin and Hun Sen have been great leaders of their respective countries and their children also reached power in the country within a gap of one year.
But everything changed after the audio was leaked. Both the leaders publicly spewed venom against each other. Thaksin said that he wanted to give the Thai army a chance to teach Hun Sen a lesson. On which Hun Sen described his statement as ‘inciting the fire of war’.
Experts who keep an eye on the politics of Thailand and Cambodia say that Hun Sen wants to strengthen the nationalist image of his son and current Prime Minister Hun Manet by taking advantage of the instability going on in Thailand’s politics. At the same time, a treason case is going on against Thaksin, which has weakened his political hold. His return to the country in 2023 and compromise with the military-royal alliance has also become a reason for resentment among his traditional supporters.
Is Thailand-Cambodia war a result of the rivalry of their respective dynasties?
Thailand’s former Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said in a New York Times report that “the aspirations and dreams of wealth of both the families have not been realized.” He said that Hun Sen probably considered this as Thaksin’s failure. Hun Sen had full control over his country and could deliver on his promise. But Thaksin has been losing his influence and control over Thai society for the past 20 years.”
In addition, Thaksin recently threatened to crack down on casinos and online scam hubs in areas bordering Cambodia and himself talked about plans for an entertainment complex that could challenge the Cambodian casino industry. This move poses a direct economic and strategic threat to Hun Sen, further deepening tensions.
Another bone of contention is the 11th century Preah Vihear temple and the land around it, which was handed over to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. But Thailand still claims the surrounding areas. The two countries have clashed over this dispute in 2008 and 2011. Now, as personal bitterness, political instability and historical disputes become entangled, another serious crisis has arisen for Southeast Asia.
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