AKP Phnom Penh, July 24, 2025--

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate, has firmly denied reports claiming he had fled Cambodia during escalating border tensions with Thailand, reaffirming his active presence and involvement in national defence efforts.

“A Thai newspaper recently reported that I had left Cambodia for China. I want to clearly state that I am in the country and currently participating in military command operations via video conference and other systems, together with the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defence, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and other military commanders at all levels,” he said in a social media post this afternoon.

“I am not running away, my compatriots. Do not worry,” he assured.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen added that he has been closely monitoring the situation since the commander of Thailand’s 2nd Military Region threatened to close the entrance to Tamone Thom Temple, a key flashpoint in the border dispute.

He accused the same Thai commander of initiating the current conflict by ordering the temple’s closure yesterday and launching an armed attack on Cambodian forces this morning.

“This is the same man who once claimed he could take Cambodia in three days,” Samdech Techo Hun Sen remarked, challenging the Thai military’s “three-day strategy.”

He strongly criticised what he called the “lying nature” of Thai politicians and the Thai media, claiming that deception has become a cultural norm.

“Please continue to deceive. Don’t Thai to me,” he concluded.

By Heng Panha