Thai and Cambodian leaders trade threats as top generals step forward

Both sides deploy their top military leaders to the front in border showdown

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Displaced residents evacuating with their belongings during clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province on Dec 10. Neighbor country appears ready to back down.

(PHOTO: AFP)

BANGKOK - Thai and Cambodian leaders are locking horns in an increasingly personal war of words, as both sides push their top military “warhorses” to the front in a border confrontation that now carries the weight of sovereignty, prestige and long-term military capability.

On the Thai side, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has given the green light for full military operations and publicly declared his intention to retake 11 contested points along the frontier, signalling there will be no negotiation or compromise until Cambodia complies unconditionally with Thailand’s demands.

The clashes were into their third day across multiple sectors of the Thai-Cambodian border on Dec 10.

Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has hit back, accusing Thailand of aggression and vowing that Cambodia will respond with its full defence capability, even as Bangkok insists it is acting in self-defence.

Mr Hun Sen has reverted to familiar political tactics, releasing a photo of Mr Anutin and his wife dining with Ms Ban Sreymom, governor of Cambodia's Pailin province, in an attempt to highlight past personal ties.

It is a strategy similar to the leaked audio clips he used to pressure former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the previous Thai government. This time, however, the move has failed to shake the current administration.

Unlike previous episodes, the Thai government, Foreign Ministry and armed forces are acting in lockstep.