A Thai riot policeman patrols past the Cambodia embassy in Bangkok on November 6. Thailand threatened Friday to seal the border with Cambodia in a spiralling diplomatic row over Phnom Penh's naming of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser. (AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)BANGKOK (AFP) – Thailand threatened Friday to seal the border with Cambodia in a spiralling diplomatic row over Phnom Penh's naming of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser.
The warning came a day after the two countries recalled their respective ambassadors due to the dispute over the appointment of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.
"If Cambodia still adopts a hard line and uncompromising attitude, then we must continue to downgrade relations and maybe seal off all border checkpoints," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.
There were no reports of any incidents along the border so far and trading was going on as normal, Suthep said.
Thailand and Cambodia have fought a series of deadly skirmishes since July 2008 over disputed land that surrounds the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the border.
Thailand boosted security around the Cambodian Embassy after the Cambodian ambassador returned to Phnom Penh early Friday. There have been rallies in recent weeks around the building by anti-Thaksin protesters.
Suthep said Thailand expected Cambodia to reciprocate, adding: "Thaksin should ask Cambodian authorities to secure the Thai embassy and Thai interests in Cambodia," he said.
In 2003 Cambodian protesters set fire to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, again after both countries recalled their ambassadors in a diplomatic row.
Suthep meanwhile said there were no plans for Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to meet his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen when the pair attend a summit of Mekong River basin nations in Tokyo starting Friday.
There was no immediate comment from Phnom Penh.
The Cambodian government announced the appointment of Thaksin as economics adviser on state television late Wednesday, almost two weeks after Hun Sen first floated the idea at a summit of Asian leaders.
Twice-elected Thaksin remains a hugely influential figure in Thailand, which has been rocked by years of protests by his red-clad supporters and yellow-clad opponents, including rallies that shut down Bangkok's airports last year.
The warning came a day after the two countries recalled their respective ambassadors due to the dispute over the appointment of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.
"If Cambodia still adopts a hard line and uncompromising attitude, then we must continue to downgrade relations and maybe seal off all border checkpoints," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.
There were no reports of any incidents along the border so far and trading was going on as normal, Suthep said.
Thailand and Cambodia have fought a series of deadly skirmishes since July 2008 over disputed land that surrounds the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the border.
Thailand boosted security around the Cambodian Embassy after the Cambodian ambassador returned to Phnom Penh early Friday. There have been rallies in recent weeks around the building by anti-Thaksin protesters.
Suthep said Thailand expected Cambodia to reciprocate, adding: "Thaksin should ask Cambodian authorities to secure the Thai embassy and Thai interests in Cambodia," he said.
In 2003 Cambodian protesters set fire to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, again after both countries recalled their ambassadors in a diplomatic row.
Suthep meanwhile said there were no plans for Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to meet his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen when the pair attend a summit of Mekong River basin nations in Tokyo starting Friday.
There was no immediate comment from Phnom Penh.
The Cambodian government announced the appointment of Thaksin as economics adviser on state television late Wednesday, almost two weeks after Hun Sen first floated the idea at a summit of Asian leaders.
Twice-elected Thaksin remains a hugely influential figure in Thailand, which has been rocked by years of protests by his red-clad supporters and yellow-clad opponents, including rallies that shut down Bangkok's airports last year.
17 comments:
I said it before and I say it now... nothing benefit khmers to appoint Thaksin as advisor. If Hun Sen really wants to do that there are several Khmer who can be best candidate for this position why not appoint a good khmer expert to this post? Hun Sen you plays with fire to serve your own personal ambitious by using khmer's blood.
If Thailand want to seal their fucken border with khmer, not only khmer people suffer? Thais people suffer the same shit! khmer can go somewhere else, khmer had survived so may wars already and we don't give a shit about Thailand border closing craps!
We must provide help to Khmers living in border area as much as possible, a fundraising campaign seems a good idea to me. At the same we must hang tough and never yield to the tai's threat to seal borders. In the long run the enemies will suffer more than us.
I don't know why some people so fucken scared or care about these shits? if they want to close their fucken border...let them seal their fucken mouth also! why do we care?? remembered 4 fucken years long that we don't have anyboy or anythings at all...khmer still survive with no problems...shit!! Thailand can kiss my PM Hun Sen black ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fuck that Farmer Suthep mother fucker!! Thailand crying baby...
We don;t need any good from Thailand. There are planty of subsidies from many other countries. Suthep - don't forget today is the "Globalization era". if you acted more as like you said, the more your country's economics wil get sour. Cambodia has now reluctant using any Siam products...!
KE
these siems are living in the la la land. Just like the aforemention, globalization is today name of the game. Overseas Khmers are avoiding siem's products like a plague.
2:17 PM
Yes you right, Did we have someone like Mr. Thaksin ? From my knowledge and my experience with Khmer around the globe, we just don't have someone, who is able to do this job.
Mr. Thaksin have a lot of connection with the people around the world, who are now running the world business. Important is Mr. Thaksin have more financial background and did not want to get any cents from our country Cambodia. As he said, it is a great honor for him to provide and serve our country. In case Mr. Thaksin is a Khmer descent or Khmer Mon, we Khmer around the world sure welcome Mr. Thaksin and not complain.
Khmer lives in Europe
2:30pm, LMHO, I love your last sentence. My sentiment is pretty much like yours.
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.
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.
Y not, go a head to seal the border then you will see who will loose more.
Go a head do what PAD wants, close the freakin border. Most people don’t even used checkpoint to cross anyway.
3:39PM,
Politics and self-interest of these politicians. Don't be naive by such schemes.
Peace.
2:17PM,
Khmer are known mastering in arts, grafts, and agrarian sector--but not in trade and commerce. Light-skinned asian like the chinese, korean, Japanese, and vietnamese are excel in technology and as merchants--their prosperity speaks for themselves. No offense to our brown-skinned brothers!!! Our government should recruit more educated Chinese-Khmer to help in our economics sector.
Love Khmer
well, we all know siem always have bad intention to hurt poor villagers along the borders, really! thailand is so hypocritical of how they kept saying that they want to rsolve border dispute bilaterally and peaceful, but just look at how they are flip flopping! how can cambodia, khmer people and the rest of the international community trust siem ineffective gov't, really!
Blame no one's else but Hun Sen!
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