(Phnom Penh): ASEAN Chair and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim posted on his official Facebook page at around 9 p.m. (Phnom Penh time) on Thursday, following discussions with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister. In his post, Anwar called for a ceasefire and noted “positive signals and willingness from both sides.”

However, just over an hour later, at 10:10 p.m., former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra posted a statement: “I asked for some time because I have to let the Thai military teach Hun Sen a lesson…”

This raises two critical points:

1. Thaksin’s statement appears to directly dismiss ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal, suggesting Thailand is disregarding the regional call for peace.

2. The post exposes Thailand’s underlying intent to resolve the dispute through military force rather than dialogue, a stance that will not go unnoticed by the international community.

With tensions already running high, Thaksin’s remarks could signal further escalation, despite the ASEAN Chair’s push for restraint.
=FRESH NEWS