By SOPHENG CHEANG
Associated Press
Cambodia's prime minister said Sunday that Thailand's fugitive ex-leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, will visit the country to make a speech to economists, an event bound to inflame a worsening diplomatic row between the neighbors.
Thaksin was named an economic adviser to the Cambodian government last week. Thailand responded by recalling its ambassador, with Cambodia then following suit.
Hun Sen's embrace of Thaksin - who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and is a deeply divisive figure in Thailand - follows a border dispute that has led to several small but deadly military skirmishes over the past year.
Showing no attempt to make amends, Hun Sen directed his message to current Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
"I would like to inform Abhisit that on Nov. 12, Thaksin will give a lecture to over 300 Cambodian economists," Hun Sen told reporters at the Phnom Penh airport after returning from a trip to Tokyo for a meeting of regional leaders that included Thailand. At the meeting, Hun Sen and Abhisit were photographed keeping a distance from each other.
Hun Sen refused to say exactly when Thaksin would arrive in Cambodia.
The diplomatic tensions are closely tied to an ongoing political struggle in Thailand, where Thaksin is at the center of a political crisis and street protests that have gripped the country since 2006.
Thaksin was deposed for alleged massive corruption and other charges. His supporters say he should be pardoned and returned to power. Since the coup, Thaksin has lived abroad to escape a corruption conviction and two-year prison sentence.
"Thaksin is not a criminal, he is not a terrorist," Hun Sen said. "He is purely a political victim."
Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, had substantial business interests in Cambodia and was accused of pursuing special deals there for his family-controlled conglomerate while prime minister.
Thaksin served two terms as prime minister from 2001 to 2006. He retains huge popularity among his rural poor power base who have staged frequent rallies calling for his return to power. But he is reviled by many in the educated urban elite, who led months of street protests ahead of the coup and again when Thaksin's allies briefly retook power.
Thaksin has recently been based in Dubai but has traveled extensively in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Thaksin was named an economic adviser to the Cambodian government last week. Thailand responded by recalling its ambassador, with Cambodia then following suit.
Hun Sen's embrace of Thaksin - who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and is a deeply divisive figure in Thailand - follows a border dispute that has led to several small but deadly military skirmishes over the past year.
Showing no attempt to make amends, Hun Sen directed his message to current Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
"I would like to inform Abhisit that on Nov. 12, Thaksin will give a lecture to over 300 Cambodian economists," Hun Sen told reporters at the Phnom Penh airport after returning from a trip to Tokyo for a meeting of regional leaders that included Thailand. At the meeting, Hun Sen and Abhisit were photographed keeping a distance from each other.
Hun Sen refused to say exactly when Thaksin would arrive in Cambodia.
The diplomatic tensions are closely tied to an ongoing political struggle in Thailand, where Thaksin is at the center of a political crisis and street protests that have gripped the country since 2006.
Thaksin was deposed for alleged massive corruption and other charges. His supporters say he should be pardoned and returned to power. Since the coup, Thaksin has lived abroad to escape a corruption conviction and two-year prison sentence.
"Thaksin is not a criminal, he is not a terrorist," Hun Sen said. "He is purely a political victim."
Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, had substantial business interests in Cambodia and was accused of pursuing special deals there for his family-controlled conglomerate while prime minister.
Thaksin served two terms as prime minister from 2001 to 2006. He retains huge popularity among his rural poor power base who have staged frequent rallies calling for his return to power. But he is reviled by many in the educated urban elite, who led months of street protests ahead of the coup and again when Thaksin's allies briefly retook power.
Thaksin has recently been based in Dubai but has traveled extensively in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
8 comments:
If Thailand does not want Thaksin...Cambodia wants him! Simple as that...don't tell me Cambodia interferes with Thailand internal politics. How many times Thailand has slapped Cambodia and look down on Cambodia?
Thaksin is a criminal judged by the rules of law and Thai judicial system. If Cambodia wants Thaksin, a fugitive of Thailand, and insists that you didn't interfere with Thailand internal politics, just keep your mouths shut when Thailand takes measures that they see it appropriate..
Let's not forget that Thailand used to interfere with Cambodian internal affairs many times in the past.
Just look at the examples of Thailand supporting and arming Son Ngoc Thanh and his Khmer Serei group against the governement of Sangkum Reasts Niyum of King Father Norodom Sihanouk.
Thailand was very bad then and had caused Cambodia a lot of problems.
The then Royal Government of Cambodia had to fight 4 fronts concurrently.
In the west there was Thailand, in the east there was South Vietnam, internally the then RGC had to fight the KRs and the right-wing group of Lon Nol and Sirik Matak who were worms inside the very own body of Cambodia.
I truly feel sorry for Cambodia, a country where her own flesh seems to not be able to unite among themselves even under extreme and dangerous condition for the survival of herself.
Does this stupid Thai PM (Abullshit) understood when you're closed any contact with that individual you lost all kind of contact??
he can't request any extradition from Cambodia. The case is closed!!
Motherfucker Abhishit must go back to school!
I luv PM Hun Sen doing these to Thailand! this is good, to teach Thailand a lessons!! for looking down on cambodia, who fucken care if they close their border or terminated MOU craps..! cambodia still has a full rights! "1907" don't fuck with PM Hun Sen fool...!
Abhisit Vejjajiva will hurts his people more and even worst by closing the border with cambodia, they will lose big time!! Most of Thailand products are selling to cambodia, Thais people already complaints that they have lost alot of money lately, and the border not even close yet..??
Gov't of SiSaket..
correction = Mayor of SiSaket
To Hun Sen (Leader of the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime)
Since you and the CPP assassinated, executed, killed and murdered jurnalists, political opponents, leaders of the free trade union, innocent men, innocent women and innocent children;
Do you have any plan to assassinate the Thai prime minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva)?
Are you going to send Brigade 70 (Hun Sen's Death Squad Unit) to assassinate the Thai prime minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva)?
Is it true, you only kill your own peoples, you will not kill Thai and Veitnamese peoples that cannot get enough of our land?
Is it true, you only kill innocent Khmer peoples with no weapon in their hands?
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