THE NATION
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday said the authorities would not allow Thaksin Shinawatra's private jet to fly over Thailand on his way out of Cambodia following the arrest of a Thai mechanic on spying charges.
Cambodian authorities arrested and charged Siwarak Chothipong, an engineer at Cambodia Air Traffic Services, with stealing flight information involving fugitive ex-premier Thaksin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Suthep said the flight schedule was not regarded as an official secret and was readily available. Therefore, Thailand did not have to use Siwarak to obtain it.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday described Cambodia's arrest of the mechanic as an act of intimidation with intent to defame Thailand.
Meanwhile, a group of government MPs yesterday threatened to file an impeachment motion against some 50 opposition Pheu Thai MPs who skipped a joint parliamentary session to meet Thaksin in Cambodia.
The ousted premier yesterday held a meeting with the Pheu Thai MPs in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap.
Watchara Petchthong, Democrat for Bangkok, said the House and the Senate had scheduled a joint session in advance to deliberate the framework on negotiations of international agreements and treaties but that dozens of opposition MPs were absent.
Watchara said those MPs could be in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code for failing to perform their official duty.
"These MPs knew about the joint session in advance, but still they skipped it," he said.
Attaporn Ponlaboot, Democrat for Phetchaburi, said government MPs would hold a meeting to see if there should be an impeachment motion against the opposition MPs.
Siwarak was accused of stealing the information and sending it to the Thai Embassy's first secretary, Kamrob Palawatwichai, who was expelled from Cambodia on Thursday.
The Cambodians accused Kamrob of having "executed work in contradiction to his position". Thailand responded by expelling the Cambodian Embassy's first secretary in the same fashion.
Thaksin, wanted by Thai authorities to serve his jail sentence in connection with a conviction for corruption, is on a visit to Phnom Penh to lecture Cambodian bureaucrats and business people. He also met with red-shirt supporters and politicians from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.
"This is clearly intimidation with intent to defame Thailand by Cambodia," Kasit said of the spying charge.
He cut short his participation in ministerial preparatory meetings for the Apec Summit in Singapore later this month.
He described the arrest as "absurd" and "a mischievous frame-up".
The foreign minister said he had assigned Thai Embassy officials in Phnom Penh to assist and provide legal advice to Siwarak.
Kasit also accused Thaksin of being the major cause of the problems between Thailand and Cambodia. And without naming anyone, he said: "The leader of our neighbouring country should give priority to the public interest and not the benefit of his family, which will bring about disaster to his country."
Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin as economic adviser to Hun Sen and his government ignited new diplomatic tensions between the two countries, which recalled their ambassadors and expelled the respective embassies' first secretaries. Thailand has downgraded relations and reviewed cooperation and loans.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government would not be lured into a trap by the Cambodian authorities, but rather would move cautiously.
Speaking before leaving for Singapore to attend the Apec Summit this weekend, Abhisit said the arrested man would obtain government assistance in the same way as other Thai nationals facing legal problems abroad.
Earlier yesterday at Government House, Kasit met Abhisit for about an hour after returning from Singapore.
The prime minister told reporters afterward that Kasit had reported on actions taken by the Foreign Ministry in this new spat with Cambodia. He said despite attempts aimed at provoking Thailand, his government would "not dance to their tune".
Abhisit said he was satisfied with the measures taken so far and that further action would be considered carefully, with a focus on making a "real impact".
Cambodian authorities arrested and charged Siwarak Chothipong, an engineer at Cambodia Air Traffic Services, with stealing flight information involving fugitive ex-premier Thaksin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Suthep said the flight schedule was not regarded as an official secret and was readily available. Therefore, Thailand did not have to use Siwarak to obtain it.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday described Cambodia's arrest of the mechanic as an act of intimidation with intent to defame Thailand.
Meanwhile, a group of government MPs yesterday threatened to file an impeachment motion against some 50 opposition Pheu Thai MPs who skipped a joint parliamentary session to meet Thaksin in Cambodia.
The ousted premier yesterday held a meeting with the Pheu Thai MPs in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap.
Watchara Petchthong, Democrat for Bangkok, said the House and the Senate had scheduled a joint session in advance to deliberate the framework on negotiations of international agreements and treaties but that dozens of opposition MPs were absent.
Watchara said those MPs could be in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code for failing to perform their official duty.
"These MPs knew about the joint session in advance, but still they skipped it," he said.
Attaporn Ponlaboot, Democrat for Phetchaburi, said government MPs would hold a meeting to see if there should be an impeachment motion against the opposition MPs.
Siwarak was accused of stealing the information and sending it to the Thai Embassy's first secretary, Kamrob Palawatwichai, who was expelled from Cambodia on Thursday.
The Cambodians accused Kamrob of having "executed work in contradiction to his position". Thailand responded by expelling the Cambodian Embassy's first secretary in the same fashion.
Thaksin, wanted by Thai authorities to serve his jail sentence in connection with a conviction for corruption, is on a visit to Phnom Penh to lecture Cambodian bureaucrats and business people. He also met with red-shirt supporters and politicians from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.
"This is clearly intimidation with intent to defame Thailand by Cambodia," Kasit said of the spying charge.
He cut short his participation in ministerial preparatory meetings for the Apec Summit in Singapore later this month.
He described the arrest as "absurd" and "a mischievous frame-up".
The foreign minister said he had assigned Thai Embassy officials in Phnom Penh to assist and provide legal advice to Siwarak.
Kasit also accused Thaksin of being the major cause of the problems between Thailand and Cambodia. And without naming anyone, he said: "The leader of our neighbouring country should give priority to the public interest and not the benefit of his family, which will bring about disaster to his country."
Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin as economic adviser to Hun Sen and his government ignited new diplomatic tensions between the two countries, which recalled their ambassadors and expelled the respective embassies' first secretaries. Thailand has downgraded relations and reviewed cooperation and loans.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government would not be lured into a trap by the Cambodian authorities, but rather would move cautiously.
Speaking before leaving for Singapore to attend the Apec Summit this weekend, Abhisit said the arrested man would obtain government assistance in the same way as other Thai nationals facing legal problems abroad.
Earlier yesterday at Government House, Kasit met Abhisit for about an hour after returning from Singapore.
The prime minister told reporters afterward that Kasit had reported on actions taken by the Foreign Ministry in this new spat with Cambodia. He said despite attempts aimed at provoking Thailand, his government would "not dance to their tune".
Abhisit said he was satisfied with the measures taken so far and that further action would be considered carefully, with a focus on making a "real impact".
5 comments:
Here it goes again, former president elected was removed by the court because he was appeared on cooking show,and now, they want to remove 50 elected memer MP. Nice going Banana Justice of Thailand.
Oh,What a pity...:(
The homeless prisoner
hey, what else is new for thailand's lame excuses. they must've think they're the only people on the planet or something! go figure!
I called a Thai canguru justice.
If the Thai think they are tough, why won't they send their f16 to intercept Thaksin's jet when he leaves Cambodia airspace.
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