(Preah Vihear): Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Senate, disclosed that Thaksin feigned illness to mislead both the Thai public and judiciary. The revelation comes after what Samdech Techo described as a betrayal of their personal and diplomatic friendship by Thaksin and his daughter, current Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen claimed that Thaksin used medical props, such as neck and arm braces, not due to any real illness, but purely as a performance meant to manipulate perceptions during legal proceedings. He asserted that he personally witnessed Thaksin in good health and was among several others aware of the deception.
Speaking during a meeting with local council members in Preah Vihear province on Friday (Jun. 27), Samdech Techo Hun Sen said: “I flew to Bangkok to visit Thaksin in person after his return to Thailand. He was not ill at all. But when it came time for photos, he asked for props—a neck brace, an arm brace—to appear sick. As soon as the pictures were taken, he removed them and went to eat. That’s not illness. It’s a show. And the Thai public already suspects this. I’m only confirming it, because both Thaksin and his daughter Paetongtarn are now showing a lack of sincerity.”
He added that Paetongtarn knew full well that her father was not ill, yet cooperated in misleading the Thai Constitutional Court. Therefore, both father and daughter, in his view, now face credibility issues before the Thai legal system. Thai authorities have recently summoned Thaksin in connection with this alleged misconduct.
Samdech Techo also named some witnesses to Thaksin’s staged illness, including Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Khuong Sreng and Thai nationals who were present. He withheld the name of one Thai witness but indicated he would release it if requested by Thai courts for further investigation.
In revealing this, Samdech Techo offered an apology to the Thai public, acknowledging that he had withheld this information out of respect for their long-standing bond.
=FRESH NEWS
