Fact Check: "Hun Sen shared leaked call with at least 80 people, escalating tensions."
What We Know
The claim that Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen shared a leaked phone call with at least 80 people is substantiated by multiple news reports. In a recent incident, Hun Sen posted a full, 17-minute recording of a conversation with Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on his Facebook page, after a shorter version of the call was leaked earlier. He stated that he shared the audio clip with 80 politicians, which led to significant political backlash in Thailand (AP News, BBC News). The conversation, which involved discussions about a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, has escalated tensions in the region, prompting calls for Paetongtarn's resignation and raising concerns about national sovereignty (Reuters).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust, with multiple credible sources confirming that Hun Sen indeed shared the recording with at least 80 individuals. This action has been described as a breach of diplomatic norms, leading to a significant political crisis in Thailand. The backlash from the leak has been severe, with the Bhumjaithai party, a key coalition partner, withdrawing from the government, citing concerns over national sovereignty and the implications of the leaked conversation (AP News, BBC News).
Hun Sen's decision to share the call has been criticized as a tactic to undermine Paetongtarn's authority, especially given the sensitive nature of the discussions surrounding the border dispute, which has historical roots and has recently escalated due to military confrontations (Reuters). The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident is high, as they include established news organizations like the Associated Press, BBC, and Reuters, which are known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards.
Conclusion
The claim that Hun Sen shared the leaked call with at least 80 people, escalating tensions, is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the call was shared widely and has resulted in significant political fallout in Thailand, including calls for the Prime Minister's resignation and concerns over national sovereignty.
