Sunday, November 15, 2009

Govt ready to fly Thais out of Cambodia

November 15, 2009
THE NATION ON SUNDAY,
THAI NEWS AGENCY


Thailand is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Cambodia if the diplomatic row between the countries worsens, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday.

"The arrest of a Thai national will not lead to closure of the embassy [in Phnom Penh]. The Thai government will ensure security for the Cambodian Embassy in Thailand and we believe Cambodia will also take care of our embassy in that country," Suthep said.

"If bilateral relations become more violent, the government is ready to evacuate Thai citizens from Cambodia immediately," he added.

In early 2003, the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burnt by rioters and several Thai-owned businesses in Cambodia were attacked following a rumour that a Thai actress had claimed the Angkor Wat temple - Cambodia's prized cultural icon - belonged to Thailand. An evacuation of Thai citizens followed the riots.

Suthep said the government had provided legal assistance for a Thai engineer arrested in Cambodia last week on charges of spying.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, who works at Cambodia Air Traffic Service, is accused of supplying the Thai Embassy with details of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's flight schedule, according to Cambodian police.

Thailand submitted a request to visit the detained suspect, which was being considered by Cambodia's Interior Ministry, said officials from both countries.

"We have to see him, whatever happens," said Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thailand's foreign minister. "Thailand categorically denies all of the spy allegations."

There was no reply from the Cambodian authorities yesterday, he said, adding that it was probably because it was a holiday.

Suthep told journalists that flight information on Thaksin's journey to Cambodia was not a secret, as the Aviation Department and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand had been asked to allow his chartered jet to fly over Thai airspace.

After learning that the plane had Thaksin on board, the government refused to allow it permission to pass through Thai airspace as he has been convicted and was also facing charges of threatening national security, Suthep said.

The deputy prime minister said Thailand would use this evidence to defend Siwarak, but the government would not intervene in Cambodia's judicial system. Initially, Samart Corp - Siwarak's employer - sent a lawyer to assist him.

In Singapore, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that the ongoing diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia would not affect cooperation among Asean members, emphasising that the problem must be solved by the two countries.

Abhisit, who is attending the 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting, told journalists that Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan had advised that Thailand and Cambodia should resolve the tension before the Asean leaders meet US President Barack Obama today.

He affirmed that Thailand, currently the Asean chair, would not raise the issue at the meeting.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sound these Siamese are horrify by its own shit

bande of jerks and barbarics

Unknown said...

If the flipflop Thai want Thaksin so bad,why didn't you allow Thaksin to fly right into Thailand and get him there instead of allow him to divert out of Thailand and then try to get get him back into Thailand? Is your Air power capable of taking any control in your Air space?
Just to show that you did not know anything about Thaksin's route in advance. Thai no shame .

Anonymous said...

the damn siems especially this illegal ahBullShit government is truly like a child. They create their own paranoia and fear. It is like a little kid who is afraid of ghosts. They take other people's stuffs and claim as their own and when the owner of the properties take them back, these silly siems throw a tantrum. They then resort to all kinds of falsehood to save their face and cover up their wicked acts. This behavior does not just materialize in the last couple years, but for a good close to 100 years now. By design, the damn siems have been teaching their younger generations many falsehoods and telling the world the same lies. a country and people with no true culture and identity.

Anonymous said...

To 7:26

I am 100% agree with you.