What did Thai PM Paetongtarn say in a leaked phone call with Cambodia's Hun Sen that led to national outrage?

Cambodian Senate President and former prime minister Hun Sen bemoaned the shattering of "heartfelt bonds” between him and the family of Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as she faces backlash over a leaked diplomatic call between the two.

In a Facebook post on Jun. 20, Hun Sen talked about the close ties once shared between him and the Shinawatra family, as well as the hospitality he had extended to them in the past.

He noted that during an official visit to Cambodia in April, Paetongtarn and her husband had dined at his home.

While there, she had also apparently requested to see the rooms that former Thai Prime Ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra – her father and aunt, respectively – had once stayed in.

“My house had preserved two rooms for them. One was named the ‘Thaksin Room’ and the other the ‘Yingluck Room,’” Hun Sen said, adding that Paetongtarn’s husband took photos and videos of both rooms.

Shattering of “heartfelt bonds”

However, Hun Sen expressed his dismay that relations have soured following the leaked Jun. 15 diplomatic call, which he blamed on an unspecified Cambodian official.

“Over 30 years of heartfelt bonds between our two families were shattered by the leak of a phone conversation by a Cambodian official, who was angered by insults directed at me and the Cambodian Prime Minister, claiming we were unprofessional.”

Explaining how the leak happened, Hun Sen said he had shared the audio recording with "approximately 80 individuals", noting it was possible that "someone disapproved of the Thai Prime Minister".

Specifically, he speculated that someone could have disapproved of the "Thai leader" publicly accusing the Cambodian leader of "unprofessional" politics on Facebook.

He also cryptically posited that only "around nine minutes" of the conversation had been posted publicly, and that if the Thai side wishes, he was prepared to post the full "17-minute and 6-second audio in its entirety".

Stirring the pot

Hun Sen’s post took a jab at Paetongtarn as she faces an onslaught of backlash, a move which Thai media outlet Khaosod English has called “stirring the pot”.

Amid escalating border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand, the leaked phone conversation ignited national outrage in Thailand, prompting an opposition party to call for Paetongtarn’s resignation and a party within her coalition to quit.

Critics have been quick to point to Paetongtarn’s apparent lack of diplomatic maturity compared to Hun Sen, as she seemed to rely on familial ties during the call by referring to him as “Uncle” and had offered to comply with any of his requests.

She also accused a Thai army commander of being on the “opposing side”.

“When you listen to him, I don't want you to be upset or angry because that's really not our intention. He just wanted to look tough and ended up saying things that are not helpful to either country,” she said.

The call

Below is an English translation of part of the call’s transcript, as reported by the Bangkok Post.

The call mainly focused on the border issue, with Hun Sen adamant that Thailand should reopen the border first.

Paetongtarn: Alright. Today I spoke to Phi Huot (nickname of the interpreter) about the border issue. We both agree that Your Excellency and I want peace between our two countries.

I don't want Uncle to listen to people who are opposed to us. If you listen to the other side, the 2nd Army Region commander is on the opposing side. When you listen to him, I don't want you to be upset or angry because that's really not our intention.

He just wanted to look tough and ended up saying things that are not helpful to either country. What we truly want is peace -- before any confrontation happens at the border.

Please have some sympathy for your niece. Right now, people in Thailand are joking that I should just go be the Cambodian prime minister! (laughs). Really, if there's anything you want, just let me know. I'll take care of it.

Hun Sen (via interpreter): Step one. Open the border as it was before the incident.

Paetongtarn: Okay. Agreed.

Hun Sen (via interpreter): Actually, it was the Thai side that initiated the border closure. If Thailand lifts the order, Cambodia will immediately follow. We've had our own problems, particularly at Chong Bok.

We complied with what Thailand requested. We've already withdrawn troops. But Thailand still uses the checkpoint issue to pressure us.

So, Samdech Hun Sen wants Your Excellency [Ms Paetongtarn] to lift the checkpoint closure. Cambodia will then lift the ban on agricultural imports.

The crux of the phone call appears to be who would declare the reopening of the borders first, with Paetongtarn pushing for a joint announcement while Hun Sen stood firm on Thailand being the one who started the issue, and thus should be the one who reopens the border first.

Paetongtarn: Right now, the government is under heavy criticism because there were reports that we would cut off water and electricity to Cambodia -- I must apologise for that. It was simply an explanation of possible scenarios, not a declaration of intent.

But now it seems like (Cambodia) has started cutting off electricity and stopping broadcasting Thai TV soap operas. If we really want things to be okay for both sides, we need to make a joint announcement saying we've reached an agreement together.

We need to jointly announce that we've reached a mutual agreement to reopen everything. That way, people see that Hun Manet and I have already discussed and agreed. Both sides want to return to normalcy. But yes, I'm really under a lot of pressure at the moment.

Khleang Huot: Does the prime minister want (us) to make a public post (on social media)?

Paetongtarn: Whether it's a (social media) post or something else, let Samdech Hun Sen recommend. But it has to be a joint agreement, Phi Huot. I'm facing very strong attacks.

Hun Sen (via interpreter): Samdech actually wants stability. But it was the (Thai) military who closed the border first -- they initiated the pressure. When they're ready, we will reopen (the border).

Paetongtarn: We're ready to reopen, too, but we have to say it's a joint agreement. Otherwise, they'll say I just caved in. We have to clarify that it was mutual.

Hun Sen (via interpreter): Samdech doesn't want to negotiate over something the Thai military started. They tricked us into adjusting our forces at Chong Bok, saying that once that's done, everything will return to normal. But instead, they closed the checkpoint -- it felt like a slap in the face. He asks that this be considered.

Samdech Hun Sen is a man of his word. The Thai side started this and tricked us. Cambodian people are also angry. If Thailand makes the first move (to reopen the border as before the conflict), we will follow. Everything will return to normal within five hours.

My dear niece, I can tell you this -- if there's no agreement on troop adjustment, everything remains as is. But if the Thai side doesn't reopen the checkpoint, Cambodia will ban all agricultural exports across the border to pressure the army.

As reported, during the adjustment at Chong Bok, we agreed that it would end there. But the Thai military went further and shut down the checkpoint -- if Cambodia tries to negotiate reopening, it will look very bad (on us). The (Thai) military (should) start reopening the checkpoints, then Cambodia will follow. Everything will be normal within five hours. Samdech Hun Sen is a man of his word.

Paetongtarn was also criticised for a part of the call where she told Hun Sen if he "wants anything, just say it".

Paetongtarn: I'll talk to the Defence Ministry. But truly, Phi Huot please ask Samdech Hun Sen if he wants anything, just say it. We can talk and work things out. Honestly, since your (Hun Sen's) Facebook post, this Cambodia issue has shaken the government more than anything else since I became prime minister.

I haven't responded publicly out of respect because I love and respect you. So if there's anything you want, just let me know. Call me directly. If it's not meant to be public, it won't be.

The leak (referring to the Thai government's threat to cut electricity and internet) occurred because it was shared in a group -- if it had been just between us, nothing would have leaked. I'll speak to the Defence Ministry.

If it works out, I'll let Phi Huat know. There are people out there who don't wish either of us well -- it makes it look like we're fighting when we're not. Young leaders like Hun Manet and I, we shouldn't go to war. War is a loss for both sides.

You can read the full transcript over at the Bangkok Post.

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Top image via Samdech Hun Sen of Cambodia/Facebook