BANGKOK, Nov 15 (TNA) -- Urging patriotic Thais to unite amid growing tensions with neighbouring Cambodia, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that the ongoing problem between the two countries could end if the Cambodian government strictly follows international practice.
Mr. Abhisit, now attending the three-day 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Singapore ending later Sunday, said in his weekly address aired on television and radio that relations between the two countries were good until Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive, ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic advisor to the Cambodian administration earlier this month.
Diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Thailand worsened after both countries recalled their ambassadors, expelled one another’s first secretaries and the Cambodian government arrested a Thai man it accused of spying on Mr Thaksin’s flight schedule, but Thailand has said that the accusation was groundless against the Thai citizen. The Thai government cancelled a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on maritime agreement which included shared access to undersea mineral resources.
Mr. Abhisit said his government had a clear understanding that the diplomatic discord should not affect the livelihood and trade conducted between peoples of the two countries on the border and that the problem would have to be resolved by the two governments.
The Thai prime minister, currently chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reaffirmed that the dispute would not affect cooperation among members of ASEAN and between the bloc and its dialogue partners.
“What we (Thailand) are doing follows norms and international practices and we want to urge Cambodia to do the same,” Mr. Abhisit emphasised.
“If the Cambodian government reviews its stance and does everything as it was before the ASEAN summit last month,” said the Thai premier, “I believe that with our cooperation and neighbourliness will run smoothly.”
The Thai premier also expressed regret that some groups of Thais ignited the problems.
“Now the most important thing is the solidarity of the Thai people, being patient (with others) and showing our sincerity that we want to be good neighbours by respecting rules,” said Mr Abhisit.
Mr. Abhisit, now attending the three-day 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Singapore ending later Sunday, said in his weekly address aired on television and radio that relations between the two countries were good until Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive, ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic advisor to the Cambodian administration earlier this month.
Diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Thailand worsened after both countries recalled their ambassadors, expelled one another’s first secretaries and the Cambodian government arrested a Thai man it accused of spying on Mr Thaksin’s flight schedule, but Thailand has said that the accusation was groundless against the Thai citizen. The Thai government cancelled a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on maritime agreement which included shared access to undersea mineral resources.
Mr. Abhisit said his government had a clear understanding that the diplomatic discord should not affect the livelihood and trade conducted between peoples of the two countries on the border and that the problem would have to be resolved by the two governments.
The Thai prime minister, currently chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reaffirmed that the dispute would not affect cooperation among members of ASEAN and between the bloc and its dialogue partners.
“What we (Thailand) are doing follows norms and international practices and we want to urge Cambodia to do the same,” Mr. Abhisit emphasised.
“If the Cambodian government reviews its stance and does everything as it was before the ASEAN summit last month,” said the Thai premier, “I believe that with our cooperation and neighbourliness will run smoothly.”
The Thai premier also expressed regret that some groups of Thais ignited the problems.
“Now the most important thing is the solidarity of the Thai people, being patient (with others) and showing our sincerity that we want to be good neighbours by respecting rules,” said Mr Abhisit.
12 comments:
There is no sincerity in the speech. Cambodia had learned enough from Thailand. We don't judge them by their mouths anymore, we judge them by their action. WE want to see results from Preah Vihear to the killing of innocent Cambodian people along the border. Again we had enough of the Thai bullshits. You got to be Thailand's neighbor to how they really are...
PM Abhisit, How come your government didn't extradite a Russian to the U.S. last August 2009? Should not Thailand follows international law? Please all Khmers in Cambodia and oversea refrain from buying Thai goods and avoid using anything that related to thai services.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thailand court refuses extradition to US of suspected Russian arms dealer
Andrew Morgan at 9:20 AM ET
The Bangkok Criminal Court on Tuesday refused to extradite a suspected Russian arms trafficker to the US to face prosecution for supplying weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). In denying the extradition request [AFP report], Judge Jitakorn Patanasiri said that the accusations made against Viktor Bout [BBC profile] by the US were not cognizable under Thai law. The court called the conflict between FARC and the Colombian government political, noted that Thailand does not recognize FARC as a terrorist group, and determined that it lacks authority to penalize a foreign defendant for actions committed abroad. James Entwistle [official profile], the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Bangkok, said that the US was disappointed by the decision because and that the US supports a planned appeal by Thai prosecutors.
Last month, a Russian organized crime leader and suspected weapons trafficker Semyon Mogilevich [FBI profile], who is wanted by the US, was released [JURIST report] by a Russian court. Mogilevich is unlikely to stand trial on US racketeering, securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering charges, as the US and Russia do not have an extradition treaty. In March, Armenian international arms dealer Artur Solomonyan was sentenced to 22 years in prison [JURIST report] for arranging to sell shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and other Russian-made weaponry to a confidential informant posing as an al Qaeda operative.
If you listen to Thaksin's speech during dinner with Hun Sen...You can see his philosophy is really good, "Help thy neighbor and this will benefit Thailand as well" It's a win-win situation. Why can't Abhisit get along with his neighbors. Is it because he wants to gain popularity and stir nationalism and hatred?
If Apishit wants to end Thailand-Cambodia row, he needs to pull his pants down!
Do Thais really follow international practices as he claimed? How many time that Thais have ignored the international treaties? Did Thais really understand the treaties? How many times that Thais TWIST the story in favor of their leaders. It's very ASHAMED having a leader like current THAI PM.
Thai, what ever you want to be, but you will have the Khmer Symptom or Virus in your DNA until the last day of your life.
"The Thai premier also expressed regret that some groups of Thais ignited the problems."
I believe he's one of the group; the trouble maker!
Aren't you same of this kind of speech, Abbishit!
Cambodia Town
Long Beach, Ca
Your comment above were in very good fact, there were not manipulation, so I support it.
New Phally
We must humiliate further Abhisit and the military junta in Bangkok.
who is talking? What a hypocrite and double standard scum of the earth ahBullShit. This is one disturbed individual.
Abbhishit and the PAD have attitude problem. They are international gangsters. They want things that historically, legally, and morally do not belong to them such as Preah Vihear, and Khmer lands. They presently occupy the Thai government seat which they stole from the Thai majority with the help of their buddies the Thai military and the king council. The majority Thai voted for Thaksin not for the PAD nor Abhhishit. Down with these Thai bastards.
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