Cambodia’s Hun Sen: Social media master at deflecting domestic pressure

Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen has demonstrated a calculated and effective use of social media, engaging audiences with well-timed messages that appear designed to shift public focus.

His main objective is to divert attention away from Cambodia’s mounting domestic and international challenges.

Thanachate Wisaijorn, head of the Political Science Program at Ubon Ratchathani University, said Hun Sen’s social media strategy is both sharp and deliberate.

“He understands the emotional waves of netizens and often calculates his posts and videos to achieve maximum impact, such as the recent leaked audio clip of a conversation between himself and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra,” Thanachate noted.

While Hun Sen denied leaking the recording, Thanachate believes that the move undermined the Thai premier’s credibility and exposed divisions in her administration and its relationship with the military.

Thai observers said Hun Sen’s social media activities are part of the broader information war unfolding, vis-à-vis unresolved tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.

Meanwhile, former Thai ambassador to the US, Pisan Manawapat, said that Hun Sen’s recent online activities aim to distract the Cambodian public from pressing domestic problems, including economic troubles and US trade sanctions.

“One in particular is the international criticism of Cambodia’s alleged role as a hub for call-centre scams and transnational crime,” he said.

Pisan praised a public appearing between Paetongtarn and Second Army Region Commander Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, saying it sent a clear message to Cambodia that it could not interfere in Thai military or political affairs.

Hun Sen’s latest social media message shifted, from Thai-Cambodia border tensions to the economy.

In his Facebook post a few days ago, he claimed that a Thai opposition proposal to halt oil sales to Cambodia would backfire on Thailand. He warned that, if Thai oil giant PTT stops supplying fuel to Cambodia, it would be Thailand, not Cambodia that would suffer.

He added that Cambodia is ready to respond to any measures, including threats involving internet access, electricity or migrant labour. He advised the Thai government and businesses to think carefully. The post included footage of him playing golf, offering a contrasting, relaxed image amid diplomatic tensions.

Hun Sen’s official Facebook account, ‘Somdech Hun Sen of Cambodia’, has been active since 2015 and boasts 14 million followers.

Thai users can no longer access or comment on his posts, however, as he claims that some Thai comments were offensive and potentially damaging to bilateral ties.

Facebook moderators had previously recommended a six-month suspension of Hun Sen’s account, due to the aggressive language he used about political opponents.

Hun Sen briefly shut down his account, but threatened to ban Facebook from Cambodia. Meta, the platform’s parent company, did not follow through with the suspension.