Hun Sen won't let Thaksin visit while reds protest: Suthep

April 5, 2010
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Hua Hin

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had vowed not to allow former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to visit Cambodia during the red shirt protest, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday.

Hun Sen, whose country downgraded relations with Thailand since the appointment of Thaksin as his economic adviser in October last year, is in Thailand for the mekong River Commission summit in Hua Hin.

Suthep made a courtesy call on Hun Sen on the sidelines of the summit yesterday, to wish him a happy birthday and discuss bilateral relations.

Relations between Hun Sen and Thaksin were personal, he said later, and the Cambodian premier would not allow them to jeopardise mutual interests of the two countries.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen told me to let bygones be bygones and move forward to the future to restore relations of the two countries," Suthep told reporters.

"Our countries are neighbors which cannot move away from each other. The border will be no problem and relations of people along the border will improve," he said.

Hun Sen's latest message was contrary to his previous stance, which was strongly opposed the current government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been downgraded as both sides recalled their respective ambassadors after the Cambodian PM appointed the fugitive former Thai PM.

The appointment of Thaksin created a bilateral crisis for the the two countries. But relations had already soured due to the border conflict over land near the historic Hindu temple at Preah Vihear.

Thaksin visited Cambodia twice since Hun Sen made him an economic adviser. The Thai government responded by reviewing cooperation projects, including maritime deals and financial assistance for a road upgrade after Phnom Penh rejected a Thai request to extradite Thaksin.

Thaksin's visit to Cambodia had political implications for Thailand due to his proximity to the red shirt group and possible moves to try to oust Abhisit's administration.

Suthep said that Hun Sen understood the implications of Thaksin visiting his country and would not allow him in while the red shirts protest, as some Thais may "misunderstand" that Hun Sen was letting Thaksin use Cambodia as a base for moves against the Thai government.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen told me that Cambodian constitution also bars anybody from using the country as a political base against other countries," Suthep said.

Asked if Prime Minister Hun Sen was sincere, given the verbal attack he launched against the Thai government recently, Suthep said the mood of the Cambodian leader had changed and he now he insisted that Thaksin was a normal economic adviser, with no political agenda in his appointment.

Suthep is one of just a few senior Thai officials among the Abhisit government on good terms with Hun Sen.

The Cambodian PM had no formal bilateral meeting with Abhisit on this two-day stay for the MRC summit but met with Suthep in a private capacity.

"He invited me to have a meal at his residence in Phnom Penh whenever I am free from the red shirt protest at home," Suthep said.