The embattled prime minister travelled to the Chong Bok border pass in Ubon Ratchathani province today and met with the Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, whom she had referred to as an opponent of her government in a leaked audio recording of a conversation with Cambodia’s Hun Sen.
She said her trip was intended to offer moral support to all armed forces, who have bravely and diligently performed their duties for the country.
This is her first visit to the area since border tensions with Cambodia began on May 28, when Thai and Cambodian troops clashed, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
The tension appeared to ease, after both sides agreed to retreat to their previous positions. The situation flared up again, however, after the Thai military changed the opening hours of checkpoints along the shared border.
The Thai public became aware of the phone call between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen when it was leaked by Hun Sen’s side.
In the recording, Paetongtarn is heard describing Second Army Region Commander Boonsin Padklang as an opponent and suggesting that he was merely saying things to appear “cool”.
The fallout has manifested as, among other things, strong criticism from various sectors of Thai society.
Today’s trip was hastily arranged, in an apparent attempt to mend ties with Boonsin.
Paetongtarn boarded a flight to an army base in the province, where Lt Gen Boonsin and other senior army officers welcomed her, before proceeding to the border pass.
The prime minister was seen speaking with Boonsin on her way from the aircraft to a nearby building.
Paetongtarn told reporters that she and Boonsin have no issues whatsoever, adding “I thanked the armed forces for their service and told them that my government fully supports their actions, although no one wants to see any clashes.”
Attempting to distance herself from the leaked conversation controversy, Paetongtarn said she and Boonsin have a good understanding, adding that this was only the second time they had met, meaning it is unlikely, in her view, that they could have any serious disagreements.
She repeated her argument, that labelling Boonsin as her opponent was just a tactical move in the conversation.
Before her arrival, social media pages in the province, detailing her visit, were flooded with comments expressing outrage over her earlier remarks about Boonsin.
