Acting Head of State Hun Sen said Thailand could keep the border closed for another 100 years without Cambodia dying, and that Cambodia would neither change its position nor demean itself by asking Thailand to reopen the crossings. He said the unilateral closure had blocked Thai imports and encouraged Cambodians to support domestically produced goods.
Hun Sen made the remarks through his official Telegram channel on September 23, following extensive discussion of reopening Cambodia–Thailand crossings among Cambodian social media users and across Thai society.
In his official Telegram message, Hun Sen said: “In fact, I did not want to say anything about the Cambodia–Thailand conflict, which is being addressed under a ceasefire, to ensure that soldiers and civilians are not killed or injured, and that public and private property and infrastructure are not destroyed by renewed war.”
However, he wanted to address the reopening of Cambodia–Thailand crossings, a widely discussed issue. He said discussion on the Cambodian side had mainly come from social media users, while politicians and leaders of the armed forces and civilian administration had not spoken out. In Thailand, by contrast, people at all levels had talked extensively about keeping the border closed.
Hun Sen stressed that since the Thai military unilaterally closed the border, Cambodia had never asked Thailand to reopen it. It had only said: “Thailand closed it, so Thailand can reopen it without negotiating with Cambodia; Cambodia will follow by reopening within five hours at the latest.”
“Cambodia’s position will not change, and Cambodia will not demean itself by asking Thailand to reopen the crossings. Thailand can keep them closed even for another 100 years without Cambodia dying,” he added.
Hun Sen continued: “I should thank Thailand. Through this unilateral border closure, Thai goods cannot enter, while Cambodian-made goods have grown strongly. Patriotic Cambodians are supporting domestic products, which will help economic growth in the long term.”
He said that after more than three months without Thai goods, Cambodia’s market remained stable, with sufficient consumer goods and low inflation, while the macroeconomy as a whole was well managed.
Regarding the request by Japanese investors operating in both Thailand and Cambodia to transport goods across the border, he asked Japan to contact Thailand, as the Cambodian side had already agreed.
Hun Sen urged his compatriots to be patient and allow the government to continue resolving the issues peacefully. “We cannot use war to end war,” he said.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Television; by: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
