[Thai] Govt vows to investigate 'secret' oil, gas talks [between Abhisit and Hun Xen's govt]

2/09/2011
Aekarach Sattaburuth & Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked the Foreign Ministry to investigate alleged secret talks about oil and gas interests in an overlapping marine area with Cambodia during the tenure of the Democrat-led government.

Ms Yingluck wants the ministry to look into talks involving Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in the last government, said government spokeswoman Thitima Chaisaeng.

On Tuesday, the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority said the Cambodian government would welcome a resumption of negotiations with Thailand on resolving claims to the 27,000 square kilometre stretch of seabed considered to be rich in oil and gas.

The authority, under the supervision of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, said Bangkok and Phnom Penh had held secret talks to try to reach a deal.

Mr Suthep, now a Democrat Party MP from Surat Thani, denied he met Cambodian authorities secretly to talk about oil and gas interests.

He conceded he had met Sok An, who oversees energy affairs, in Hong Kong, for informal talks at the Cambodian minister's request. He did not say what was on the agenda of the Hong Kong talks.

Ms Yingluck has expressed concern over the matter and fears it might affect relations between the two countries, which are showing signs of improvement, Ms Thitima said.

The government spokeswoman said the Pheu Thai-led government would hold negotiations on any issues in a transparent manner and would protect the country's interests.

Noppadon Pattama, close aide and legal adviser to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, yesterday urged former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to come clean on the talks.

He said Mr Abhisit must tell the public why Mr Suthep visited Cambodia in July last year and why he had to hold secret talks with Cambodian officials.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he would write to Cambodia asking for clarification about any secret talks that may have taken place.

"The Yingluck government will discuss this issue with Cambodia straightforwardly and will not hold any secret talks so as not to create a false impression that there are conflicts of interest," Mr Surapong said.

He said he was not worried about a conflict of interest arising if the two countries could agree openly.

He added that negotiations on the overlapping maritime zone in the Gulf of Thailand during the Thaksin Shinawatra government had taken place under a 2001 memorandum of understanding that was put in place during the Chuan Leekpai government.

"The Abhisit government announced its intent to revoke the 2001 MoU without informing Cambodia, but it reappointed Mr Suthep as the head of a delegation to negotiate this issue with Cambodia again," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said he would visit Cambodia to seek the release of Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who were jailed for espionage in the neighbouring country.

He plans to make the request after Ms Yingluck visits Cambodia.