PHNOM PENH: Cambodian speakers at an international forum have described how Thailand has threatened Asean centrality by acting as an “Asean police force”, invading Cambodia under the pretext of combatting online scams, while their real intention was territorial encroachment.
Speaking at the Fifth Phnom Penh Fifth Phnom Penh Forum on “Asean Centrality amid Strategic Rivalry and Global Uncertainty” on Thursday (Aug 13), Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), declared that Thailand has seriously undermined Asean centrality through its narrative of “tackling online scams” with the intent to invade Cambodian territory.
“I see Asean centrality is declining, even as Asean leaders strive to promote it, as previous speakers raised. This centrality has been damaged and weakened by Asean members themselves,” he said.
“Asean itself has both supporters and destroyers of Asean centrality. I can say without hesitation that Thailand has seriously undermined Asean centrality through its ‘online scam’ narrative. I am not afraid to say it because it is a clear fact.
“We ask, has Thailand appointed itself to the role of Asean policeman simply because of these online scams? Theoretically and politically, no single country is the governor of Asean; all Asean members are governors of Asean,” he added.
He also noted that had Cambodia defended the facts through diplomatic channels, the world may have been convinced by Thailand that their invasion of Cambodia was justified.
He also pointed out to the recent visit of Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing to Thailand as another example of Bangkok undermining Asean trust, by disrespecting the Asean five-point consensus regarding Myanmar.
“I will not elaborate much on this; I want Myanmar to return to Asean as well. However, we must respect the decisions of all Asean leaders, not just Thailand’s decision alone; it must be a collective decision of Asean,” he said.
Kokthay Eng, secretary of state of the Council of Ministers, also touched on the topic at the forum, saying that Asean must enhance cooperation on non-traditional security challenges.
He noted that Asean unity and strength require cooperation against online scams, financial crimes, human trafficking and illicit financial flows, not competition or the use of accusations of criminality for the purpose of pursuing domestic political agendas.
The Thai military bombed hotels in the Thma Da area of Pursat province during last December’s second round of border clashes, claiming they were combatting scam operations.
Currently, the border area remains under Thai occupation, with bunkers recently being constructed inside Cambodia.
The situation is similar at O’Smach, where hotels and casinos that reportedly hosted scam operations were bombed and are now under Thai occupation.
The Fifth Phnom Penh Fifth Phnom Penh Forum features academic participants from China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. The annual gathering is held to discuss regional and global issues that affect the 11-nation Asean bloc. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
