Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen talks at a ceremony to inaugurate construction of a Chinese-funded bridge at Prek Kdam village, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, June 11, 2007. Hun Sen on Monday angrily called as 'irresponsible and unacceptable' recent comments by a Thai army general accusing Cambodian Muslims of being linked to the regional Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group and joining insurgents in southern Thailand. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)Monday, June 11, 2007
The Associated Press
PREK KDAM, Cambodia: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday angrily denied reported comments by a retired Thai general that some Cambodian Muslims were fanning an Islamic insurgency in southern Thailand.
Thailand's southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have been seized by a separatist rebellion that has led to more than 2,300 deaths in the past three years. The three provinces form the only Muslim-dominated area in the Buddhist-majority country.
Retired Gen. Wattanachai Chaimuenwong — now a security affairs adviser to Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont — reportedly said Friday that some Cambodian Muslims were part of Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional terror network and had been involved in the insurgency in southern Thailand.
He called for increased intelligence cooperation between the two countries to try to stop the alleged infiltration, the Bangkok Post reported at the weekend.
On Monday, Hun Sen denied Cambodians were linked to terrorism and accused Thailand of trying to blame its own problems on other countries.
"The comments exposed the weakness of Thailand in dealing with its own domestic problems," Hun Sen said at a ground breaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded bridge over the Tonle Sap river, 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Phnom Penh. He appeared to speak directly to a Thai embassy official at the ceremony.
"Now it is sad that Cambodian Muslims are being suspected of being terrorists. This is very grave. Cambodia is not a sanctuary for launching any attacks on Thailand," he said.
Wattanachai, when contacted by phone Tuesday, defended his comments that some Muslims in Cambodia were linked to the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, or JI.
"The Cambodian government cannot deny that there are JI networks in their country, because Cambodian authorities have recently arrested JI members in Batambang," he told The Associated Press.
"But I never said that Cambodian Muslims are linked to JI here, I merely said that thousands of Cambodians, up to seven or eight thousand, have departed Cambodia to go to work in Malaysia. But they disappear (in the south of Thailand) and never return home. I merely suspect that these Cambodians are linked to JI," Wattanachai said.
Thailand's southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have been seized by a separatist rebellion that has led to more than 2,300 deaths in the past three years. The three provinces form the only Muslim-dominated area in the Buddhist-majority country.
Retired Gen. Wattanachai Chaimuenwong — now a security affairs adviser to Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont — reportedly said Friday that some Cambodian Muslims were part of Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional terror network and had been involved in the insurgency in southern Thailand.
He called for increased intelligence cooperation between the two countries to try to stop the alleged infiltration, the Bangkok Post reported at the weekend.
On Monday, Hun Sen denied Cambodians were linked to terrorism and accused Thailand of trying to blame its own problems on other countries.
"The comments exposed the weakness of Thailand in dealing with its own domestic problems," Hun Sen said at a ground breaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded bridge over the Tonle Sap river, 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Phnom Penh. He appeared to speak directly to a Thai embassy official at the ceremony.
"Now it is sad that Cambodian Muslims are being suspected of being terrorists. This is very grave. Cambodia is not a sanctuary for launching any attacks on Thailand," he said.
Wattanachai, when contacted by phone Tuesday, defended his comments that some Muslims in Cambodia were linked to the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, or JI.
"The Cambodian government cannot deny that there are JI networks in their country, because Cambodian authorities have recently arrested JI members in Batambang," he told The Associated Press.
"But I never said that Cambodian Muslims are linked to JI here, I merely said that thousands of Cambodians, up to seven or eight thousand, have departed Cambodia to go to work in Malaysia. But they disappear (in the south of Thailand) and never return home. I merely suspect that these Cambodians are linked to JI," Wattanachai said.
4 comments:
At glance I thought old Cambodia popular movie star Nop Nem was at the microphones.
Dawn gallee,that was Pen Sovann back biter.
I have to give Hun Sen and his administration a THUMB WAY UP for their firm stance against this allegation by a Thai government. It has been long over due. I hope this is not the last stance they adhere to against unjust allegation by such a foreign and incapable administration. Way to go. Keep it up. You will get my vote in next elections for sure if this attitude won't change.
The Ape Hun cannot even spell his own name.
To 9:42AM!
Do you think the fucken Thaicong can spell their own name for accusing Cambodia without evidence?
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