Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post
The offer by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to shelter former premier Thaksin Shinawatra ahead of and during the Asean summit is inappropriate and a political error.
He should not use the summit as a venue to talk about his close friend who is wanted by the Thai government. His comments to the press upon arrival in Thailand on Friday is a slap in the government's face on its own soil.
Relations between the countries have been strained over recent years due largely to disputed claims over the ownership of the ancient Hindu temple, Preah Vihear, and the ongoing border demarcation issue.
But the situation worsened last week after Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who is chairman of the opposition Puea Thai Party, returned from a visit to Phnom Penh and broke the news about Hun Sen's offer to Thaksin.
Many questioned the virtue of Gen Chavalit's visit as, not only did it fail to improve the two countries' relations, but also paved the way for Hun Sen to drive a wedge between the fragile relationship.
Hun Sen knows too well the Thai government will never keep quiet on the Thaksin issue. But instead of helping maintain good ties, he challenged the relationship by ignoring the extradition treaty both countries signed in 2001 to hand over Thaksin if he set foot in Cambodia. Worse, Thaksin will probably be appointed Hun Sen's economic adviser.
Thaksin is now in self-exile after being sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for abusing his power as prime minister in helping his wife at the time, Khunying Potjaman, win the bid in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase.
Without further discussion between the two governments, Phnom Penh should not unilaterally decide this issue is not subject to the extradition treaty.
Hun Sen also made another political mistake by likening Thaksin to Burmese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi whose house arrest has been extended by 18 months.
What Thaksin did while in power cannot be compared to the Burmese opposition leader's fight for democracy in her country.
What Hun Sen said was meant to humiliate the Thai government and tried to imply which side he wants to align with between the government-to-government relationship and his personal relationship with the ousted prime minister.
As Asean leaders are meeting to discuss ways to become "one community" by 2015, Cambodia's stance not only worsens ties between our countries, but also impinges on the whole grouping which is attempting to cultivate better ties.
He should not use the summit as a venue to talk about his close friend who is wanted by the Thai government. His comments to the press upon arrival in Thailand on Friday is a slap in the government's face on its own soil.
Relations between the countries have been strained over recent years due largely to disputed claims over the ownership of the ancient Hindu temple, Preah Vihear, and the ongoing border demarcation issue.
But the situation worsened last week after Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who is chairman of the opposition Puea Thai Party, returned from a visit to Phnom Penh and broke the news about Hun Sen's offer to Thaksin.
Many questioned the virtue of Gen Chavalit's visit as, not only did it fail to improve the two countries' relations, but also paved the way for Hun Sen to drive a wedge between the fragile relationship.
Hun Sen knows too well the Thai government will never keep quiet on the Thaksin issue. But instead of helping maintain good ties, he challenged the relationship by ignoring the extradition treaty both countries signed in 2001 to hand over Thaksin if he set foot in Cambodia. Worse, Thaksin will probably be appointed Hun Sen's economic adviser.
Thaksin is now in self-exile after being sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for abusing his power as prime minister in helping his wife at the time, Khunying Potjaman, win the bid in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase.
Without further discussion between the two governments, Phnom Penh should not unilaterally decide this issue is not subject to the extradition treaty.
Hun Sen also made another political mistake by likening Thaksin to Burmese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi whose house arrest has been extended by 18 months.
What Thaksin did while in power cannot be compared to the Burmese opposition leader's fight for democracy in her country.
What Hun Sen said was meant to humiliate the Thai government and tried to imply which side he wants to align with between the government-to-government relationship and his personal relationship with the ousted prime minister.
As Asean leaders are meeting to discuss ways to become "one community" by 2015, Cambodia's stance not only worsens ties between our countries, but also impinges on the whole grouping which is attempting to cultivate better ties.
4 comments:
When Takshin was in power and he was very popular among the poor Thai and maybe Hun Sen can learn something from Takshin! By being popular among the poor Thai mean that Takshin is undermining the Thai King power and authority because it is the Thai tradition that only the Thai King who is popular among the poor Thai!
Shame on Thai King!
it's like akid who wants to spoil the party.
A regime change is long overdue in Thailand and Hun Sen gets the ball rolling. You should thank him for that.
Since Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge commander, now a Khmer Rouge leader and had many of his political opponents assassinated, I wonder if he have any plan to assassinate the Thai Prime Minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva)?
Post a Comment