Rangsiman Rome dissected the failures of the government under Anutin's leadership, shifting the situation from "the world sides with Thailand" to "the world encircles Thailand," expressing concern that Cambodia possesses war machinery that could prolong the conflict beyond what was expected.
At 21:59 on 15 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Rangsiman Rome, former party-list MP of the People's Party (PCN), posted on Facebook that amid the fighting in Hun Sen's war, which seems likely to drag on longer than many expected, part of the reason is that Cambodia's weapons are better than initially assessed. This may be due to support from certain major powers, as previously reported, showing Cambodia has prepared well. At the same time, it is unknown whether Cambodia receives intelligence support from anyone. All these reflect a worrying escalation in the Thailand–Cambodia conflict. If our foreign affairs efforts can only achieve "this much," not to mention that Thailand's long-standing ally, the United States, seems unsupportive of Thailand's role and is exerting heavy pressure. It is clear that the outcome of talks with Anutin has negatively affected Thailand. This is yet another instance where our foreign affairs efforts amount to "this much."
Rangsiman Rome posted that Cambodia's weapons, including kamikaze drones, foreign arms support, and President Trump's stance of this nature, were not unexpected. Security agencies surely anticipated this situation. But the question is why the government allows foreign affairs efforts to achieve only "this much." Cambodia's tactic of acting as a victim to deceive global society and gain sympathy is a method many have warned the government to be cautious of, especially in the crucial foreign arena. Poor handling might unintentionally create allies for the enemy—something Anutin is known for. The limited foreign affairs performance has allowed Cambodia to receive support and pressure Thailand through major powers. All this reflects ongoing failures in foreign affairs, enabling Cambodia's war machinery to potentially prolong the conflict beyond expectations. The failure of the government under Anutin has changed the situation from "the world sides with Thailand" to "the world encircles Thailand." I am not sure if Anutin realizes what he is doing.
Rangsiman Rome further stated that machinery requires fuel, and war carries high costs. Many have warned the government that unless it destroys scammer networks, especially those based in Thailand, Hun Sen will have an endless supply line to sustain the war. Each bomb is costly, not to mention drones and expenses in liaising with countries to pressure Thailand. All this requires money, which comes from scammers who drain Thailand and use it as a money laundering hub. Delays in cracking down on scammers and allowing Ben Smith to evade arrest without any warrants is tantamount to aiding him. Anutin himself admitted knowing Ben Smith but not closely, yet knew enough that such a person should not be granted citizenship. If so, why was action not taken before he left for abroad? Remember, Ben Smith is Hun Sen's advisor, skilled in financial manipulation. His presence in Thailand raises questions about whom he works for and the extensive elite network backing him. Doesn't this mean the 'grey capital' is taking over Thailand from the heart of the capital, while Anutin neglects his duties?
"Moreover, ministers close to Ben Smith hold immense power. These people essentially assist the grey capital in taking over the country. So what has Anutin done? Thammanat once revealed through the media who knows Ben Smith. Where does the investigation stand now? If this government ultimately shelters criminals and fails to handle them, what should we call it? In the end, we can no longer rely on this government. We can only hope that the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and police agencies will perform their duties well, so the people still have hope of winning this battle."