This article was originally published in Prachatai.
During a meeting of the House Committee on National Security, relevant stakeholders discussed a leaked audio clip linked to Hun Sen’s order to target Cambodian refugees in Thailand. Two Cambodian refugees said they were pursued after fleeing to Thailand, while the National Security Council acknowledged the existence of intelligence operations, but could not confirm whether they involved state-to-state collaboration.
On Thursday (3 July), the House Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy and National Reform summoned two Cambodian refugees and relevant agencies to discuss two leaked audio clips linked to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen and Thailand.
MP Rangsiman Rome, Chair of the Committee, remarked that both audio clips had a significant impact on Thailand’s national security and its relations with Cambodia.
The first leaked audio clip involved Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Hun Sen while in the second, released by Al Jazeera, Hun Sen instructed his close associate Khliang Huot to coordinate with Thai police in hunting down and capturing or killing Cambodian dissidents, particularly Phan Phana, a Cambodian political dissident. Khliang Huot was the person who interpreted the conversation between the Thai PM and Hun Sen in the first clip.
The latest clip could serve as evidence implicating the Thai authorities in Cambodia’s crackdown on political dissidents, particularly in light of the recent shooting in Bangkok in broad daylight of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian opposition politician.
Phan Phana, who is currently residing in the US, said via a video link that after fleeing to Thailand, he was pursued by Hun Sen’s people who attempted to capture him, but he narrowly escaped. In addition, before an official visit to Thailand by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in February 2024, Phan and his family were arrested and handed over to immigration authorities, who put them in detention.
Meanwhile, ChamRoeun Suon, a Cambodian refugee now living in New Zealand, also testified via a video link that he fled Cambodia’s crackdown and entered Thailand on 11 September 2019. Later that year he was stopped at a convenience store by two Cambodian men who used a stun device and attempted to force him into a van, but Suon managed to escape. He said he reported the incident to the Din Daeng Police Station, but there has been no progress since then.
Sitanun Satsaksit, a human rights defender and sister of missing Wanchalearm Satsaksit, added that the Suon incident resembled the case of her brother, who was abducted in Cambodia.
Prakaidao Pruksakasemsuk, a human rights defender and Wanchalearm’s former close associate, asserted that Huot was known among Thai activists who fled to Cambodia and provided them with shelter and financial support. Prakaidao also said Huot was familiar with political movements in Thailand and frequently travelled to his residence in Thailand. She believes there have indeed been secret operations involving Thailand and Cambodia, especially under the National Council for Peace and Order, the military junta that ruled Thailand from 2014 to 2019.
A representative from the National Security Council (NSC) acknowledged the existence of intelligence operations targeting Cambodian nationals on Thai soil operations. However, the NSC could not confirm whether such operations were part of a state-to-state collaboration between Cambodia and Thailand, as it could not fully access sufficient information.
Regarding the leaked clip between the Thai PM and Hun Sen, Benjamin Sukanjanajtee, Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Hun Sen appears to be seeking influence over Thailand’s internal political development, asserting that his actions violated the charters of both the United Nations and ASEAN. The Ministry had summoned the Cambodian ambassador to explain that this was against diplomatic norms.
As for the Al Jazeera clip, Benjamin said that according to international law, there must be an investigation as to whether Hun Sen’s action was considered an act on behalf of Cambodia. He remarked that the Ministry has already launched a diplomatic protest while notifying ASEAN.
Pol Maj Gen Wiraphat Siwaphaet, representing the Royal Thai Police, said cooperation between the Thai police and foreign police forces is standard practice. In the case of Cambodian nationals, the Thai police have no information on who might be political dissidents. In principle, anyone entering the country illegally must be deported. He also noted that the police have never received orders to cooperate in any secret operations.
Regarding the assassination of Lim Kimya, a former opposition MP with the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the police found no irregular activities from the Cambodian side in the financial transactions of Wang, who allegedly hired Ekalak Paenoi to carry out the killing. He also provided an update on the case, saying an Interpol Red Notice has now been issued for Wang.
The first leaked clip is now being handled by the Crime Suppression Division, which has received more than 11 complaints against the Thai PM. The second clip, released by Al Jazeera, is with the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Any potential link to the Lim Kimya case will be examined, and if a connection is found, the case will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office to determine whether it qualifies as an extraterritorial case.
According to the Thai Parliament Channel, Pannika Wanich, advisor to the House Committee, told the media after the meeting that it remained unclear whether there are more private audio recordings between the Thai PM and other foreign counterparts. If such recordings exist, the PM and relevant parties must inform the relevant agencies, as such leaks could impact international relations or the country’s national security.
Meanwhile, Chutiphong Pipoppinyo, Secretary of the House Committee, stated that the investigation into the case of Khliang Huot remains ongoing and has not reached a conclusion. Many speculate that he may hold Thai citizenship.