The Nation
Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh yesterday to protest against the appointment of convicted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.
At the same time, the government said it wanted to review all bilateral agreements and commitments signed between Thailand and Cambodia by both current and previous administrations.
Ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasavinitchai arrived in Bangkok at 9pm.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thaksin's appointment could be considered as Cambodia intervening in the Thai justice system and disregarding the feelings of Thai people. He added that the Foreign Ministry's actions were aimed at making Cambodia realise the damage it had done.
"We have to implement diplomatic procedures to air our feelings. I have already given Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya the job of making the procedure public," Abhisit said.
The premier insisted that the moves would not affect relations between the Thai and Cambodian public, who will continue to be good neighbours.
"We are conducting the protest at a governmental level," he said.
In an order signed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Thaksin was appointed as economic adviser to Hun Sen and his government on Wednesday.
"Thaksin has already been appointed by royal decree ... as personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the adviser to the Cambodian government in charge of economy," said a statement from the Cambodian government that was read on television yesterday. "Allowing Thaksin to stay in Cambodia is virtuous behaviour ... good friends need to help each other in difficult circumstances."
The statement went on to call charges against Thaksin as being "politically motivated" and vowed not to extradite him if he "decides to stay in Cambodia or travels in and out in order to fulfil his duties".
Upon his arrival in Thailand last month to attend the Asean summit, Hun Sen announced that he had offered Thaksin, whom he regards as a close friend, a residence and a job.
The Foreign Ministry's decision to recall the Thai ambassador is the strongest protest in years and the government has said all ongoing cooperation between the two nations would be put on hold for the time being.
The foreign minister's secretary, Chavanont Intarakomalsut, agreed with Abhisit and reiterated that giving Thaksin a job could be seen as Cambodia intervening in the Thai justice system.
"Thaksin's appointment is an insult to the Thai justice system," he said at a press conference.
Giving Thaksin the job clearly shows that the Cambodian premier cannot distinguish between personal interests and the mutual interests of the two countries, Chavanont said.
Before the decision to recall the envoy was made, Abhisit called a meeting with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and senior army officers, including Army chief General Anupong Paochinda, early yesterday before meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the ministers had unanimously agreed to go ahead with the measures.
"Cambodia has sent us a clear signal and this is not the first time. It is obvious that they cannot separate international ties from personal friendships, so we have no other choice," he said.
He added that Kasit would discuss the issue with high-ranking officials at Foreign Ministry and see what level the Thailand-Cambodia diplomatic ties should be downgraded to.
When asked if Abhisit would discuss the issue with Hun Sen, because both are due to attend a mini-summit in Tokyo of leaders from countries in the Mekong Basin on Friday and Saturday, Panitan said: "We are willing, if he [Hun Sen] wants to talk."
In related news, reports say that the Cambodian army is on alert at the border area near the disputed Preah Vihear temple, where the two countries last fought in April.
"The situation is calm, but we're on alert. The prime minister has already ordered us to protect our territory," deputy commander-in-chief of the Cambodian armed forces Chea Dar said yesterday.
"Cambodia will not invade Thai territory, but if Thai troops enter even one-centimetre into our territory, they will be destroyed," he added.
Meanwhile, Thaksin sent out a Twitter message yesterday accusing the Thai government of behaving like a child and overreacting by recalling the Thai envoy from Phnom Penh.
At the same time, the government said it wanted to review all bilateral agreements and commitments signed between Thailand and Cambodia by both current and previous administrations.
Ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasavinitchai arrived in Bangkok at 9pm.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thaksin's appointment could be considered as Cambodia intervening in the Thai justice system and disregarding the feelings of Thai people. He added that the Foreign Ministry's actions were aimed at making Cambodia realise the damage it had done.
"We have to implement diplomatic procedures to air our feelings. I have already given Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya the job of making the procedure public," Abhisit said.
The premier insisted that the moves would not affect relations between the Thai and Cambodian public, who will continue to be good neighbours.
"We are conducting the protest at a governmental level," he said.
In an order signed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Thaksin was appointed as economic adviser to Hun Sen and his government on Wednesday.
"Thaksin has already been appointed by royal decree ... as personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the adviser to the Cambodian government in charge of economy," said a statement from the Cambodian government that was read on television yesterday. "Allowing Thaksin to stay in Cambodia is virtuous behaviour ... good friends need to help each other in difficult circumstances."
The statement went on to call charges against Thaksin as being "politically motivated" and vowed not to extradite him if he "decides to stay in Cambodia or travels in and out in order to fulfil his duties".
Upon his arrival in Thailand last month to attend the Asean summit, Hun Sen announced that he had offered Thaksin, whom he regards as a close friend, a residence and a job.
The Foreign Ministry's decision to recall the Thai ambassador is the strongest protest in years and the government has said all ongoing cooperation between the two nations would be put on hold for the time being.
The foreign minister's secretary, Chavanont Intarakomalsut, agreed with Abhisit and reiterated that giving Thaksin a job could be seen as Cambodia intervening in the Thai justice system.
"Thaksin's appointment is an insult to the Thai justice system," he said at a press conference.
Giving Thaksin the job clearly shows that the Cambodian premier cannot distinguish between personal interests and the mutual interests of the two countries, Chavanont said.
Before the decision to recall the envoy was made, Abhisit called a meeting with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and senior army officers, including Army chief General Anupong Paochinda, early yesterday before meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the ministers had unanimously agreed to go ahead with the measures.
"Cambodia has sent us a clear signal and this is not the first time. It is obvious that they cannot separate international ties from personal friendships, so we have no other choice," he said.
He added that Kasit would discuss the issue with high-ranking officials at Foreign Ministry and see what level the Thailand-Cambodia diplomatic ties should be downgraded to.
When asked if Abhisit would discuss the issue with Hun Sen, because both are due to attend a mini-summit in Tokyo of leaders from countries in the Mekong Basin on Friday and Saturday, Panitan said: "We are willing, if he [Hun Sen] wants to talk."
In related news, reports say that the Cambodian army is on alert at the border area near the disputed Preah Vihear temple, where the two countries last fought in April.
"The situation is calm, but we're on alert. The prime minister has already ordered us to protect our territory," deputy commander-in-chief of the Cambodian armed forces Chea Dar said yesterday.
"Cambodia will not invade Thai territory, but if Thai troops enter even one-centimetre into our territory, they will be destroyed," he added.
Meanwhile, Thaksin sent out a Twitter message yesterday accusing the Thai government of behaving like a child and overreacting by recalling the Thai envoy from Phnom Penh.
15 comments:
Well Thai has been insulted the world court (ICJ) for many many years.
Insulted UNESCO and insulted Cambodia by not respecting the Preah Vihear temple in the name of ICJ.
“He added that the Foreign Ministry's actions were aimed at making Cambodia realise the damage it had done.”
What a quote by Thai’s media! Don’t you realize that you (Thai thieves) had already damage relation between the two countries due to Preah Vihear clamin'? Damn it!
Thailand hurts cambodia and look down on cambodia by sending their troops to invade cambodian lands, this is why PM Hun Sen retaliate, i'm really please with Hun Sen stance for cambodia....good move!!
correction = Hun Sen stance strong for our country...
How much more can we take? We had enough of Thai bullshits. They talk good but no action taken... this is Thai sweet talk. A lot of foreigners don't know about this... They always blame Cambodia for being a badboy country because we have a voice or influential friends.
WE don't have a voice or influential friends.
Thailand can go crazy with its Thai democrazy junta.
Thailand hurt cambodia by sending those Yellows Shirt to protest on purpose, and after that sending their troops to pretend rescue them, but they invaded khmer lands instead, this is really pissing off PM Hun Sen! that's why he retaliated....it's all Thailand faults!!
Well, if thailand step inside again, don't hesitate to shoot and burns them alive....would ya!
Calm down, In your anger any of your action will be destructive.
You say that Thailand insult ICJ, unsult Cambodia etc. Do we, as buddhist, not insult Buddha for not learning and practicing his teaching and live according to it Dharma he gave us and to Thai brother?
For our stift neck, for our arrogance, for the arrogance and wickeness of khmer leaders that 2 millions Cambodian lives had been sacrified to God by Khmer Rouge. For the arrogance of our leaders hundred thousands more of khmer lives had been sacrified by Vietnam invader. But still we are not turning back to the teaching of Buddha, not putting into pratice HIS LAWS AND COMMANDEMENT, the DHARMA.
Now two arrogant brothers (the leaders and people) ARE face to face against each other.
One accused the other. Looking for justice? There is no justice in and with man own heart but in and with God only.
To find justice and peace and brotherhood? Turn to God and repent from our sins (arrogance, love of money, love of power, love of honor... bloodshed, oppression of poor and weak people...). Only God can bring peace and justice. Rely on our own strength without God help will lead only to failure and destruction.
This is what the Lord God has said. Listen and heed to His warninf and call. Otherwise God judgement and wrath will be upon you all, leaders and to your people God had entrusted to you to serve and care for and not to oppres and exploit.
i would be more concerned about the Youn Viet Cong who try to steal our sacred mother land little by little.
We must stop the Viet Cong from enroaching our land in Svay Reing.
Oh, stop your sweetness, and so your real face 9:52AM. How dare you are when you gave advice in relation to being a Buddhist, what about the siam solders shooting and killing defenseless cambodians, give your dump advice, actually tell the siam govt to take action to reflect your teaching.
Add on 8:45, not just insults to IJC and UNESCO, the siam act now truelly reflect what kind of people they are, they will never respect their words, and this siem behaviour now can be said also an insult and ambassment to their ancesters, the previous siam kings who signed agreements. And now they curse the trouble making siams and the mastermind, and soon will take him to punish in hell.
bullshit, siem pad thugs prostest and disrespect for cambodia's preah vihear icj verdict, etc. is actually a show of contempt and major insult to the icj and cambodia as a sovereigned nation, really, not to mention a violation of international treaty signed by both countries then! go figure! i told you, what goes around comes around, eventually. thailand has bad karma, soon they will run out of sympathy and their economy will be worst off than cambodia in the future, really! cambodia is the next tiger economy, really! it's cambodia's turn, really! thailand already had theirs in the 1980s while cambodia was preoccuppied with civil war and the aftermath of the stupid KR era, etc... now, cambodia is getting the benefits. who says cambodia need abishit's help? god bless cambodia.
so fucking sick and tired of Thailand's pretending to be the good guys. Fucking pretenders. insulting to Thai Justice. They have no fucking justice. there is no rule of law and will of the people. Only yellow thugs and their masters rule.
All of you are strategically blind. What Hun Sen does is to turn your attention to Khmer-Thai conflict. This is not the real problem. This real problem is that the economy is plummeting. Hun Sen Govt is imposing tax on his subjects (SIC!) who are earning so hard. Second, Hun Sen cuts salary from public workers. Third, illegal demarcation between Viet & Khmer Gov't.
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