Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called for a boycott of Thai goods if Thailand continues to close border checkpoints shared with Cambodia.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Hun Sen said he would recommend that the Cambodian government impose a formal ban on Thai products should Thailand refuse to reopen the crossings.
The statement came amid rising tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border and just ahead of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting scheduled in Phnom Penh on Saturday.
The former prime minister, who now serves as Senate President and leader of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, outlined several recommendations for the government to prepare in response to the situation. These included:
– Buying goods from Cambodian traders to resell in Thailand
– Transferring Cambodian patients from Thai hospitals to domestic or third-country facilities
– Creating job opportunities for Cambodian workers returning from Thailand
– Placing soldiers on 24-hour standby along the border
– Developing evacuation and safety plans for border communities
Hun Sen’s statement followed Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to the border checkpoint at Chong Chom in Surin province on Wednesday.
His remarks appeared to be a direct response to Thailand’s decision to shorten operating hours and close some border crossings in a bid to pressure Cambodia to pull back troops from disputed areas.
“If Thailand doesn’t work on fixing the border gates back to normal, we have no choice but to work on all this,” Hun Sen wrote.
Despite escalating tensions, Hun Sen urged Cambodians not to target Thai nationals, businesses, or the Thai embassy in Cambodia. He attributed the latest flare-up to what he called a recurring issue, claiming the Thai government “can’t control the army like our country.”
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday rejected the idea of adjusting Thailand’s checkpoint hours to match Cambodia’s. He maintained that the current schedule is in line with Thailand’s interests.
Anutin, who also serves as deputy prime minister, made the statement after the prime minister instructed security agencies to coordinate operations to support cross-border trade and movement.
The two countries have long contested land near the Preah Vihear temple. Although the International Court of Justice ruled in 2013 that the area belongs to Cambodia, Thailand does not accept the court’s jurisdiction.
On Sunday, military officials from both sides agreed to reposition troops at the site of the recent border clash to avoid further conflict.
Thailand has since closed several border crossings and heightened security measures along its frontier with Cambodia.
