Cambodia, Thailand eye Overlapping Claims Area

Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia and Thailand yesterday reiterated their commitment to restart negotiations over an expansive and resource-rich section of the Gulf of Thailand known as the Overlapping Claims Area – but the two countries have yet to set a date for the talks.

An official at the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media, told the Post yesterday that the chairman of the authority welcomes a new phase of negotiations based on a stalled agreement.

In 2001, officials from both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the joint development of the 26,000-kilometre area, believed to be rich in oil and gas.

The potential for a windfall is tantalising for both countries, not to mention the companies holding concessions for the extraction, which won’t start until 2016.

Gulf talks with Cambodia and oil-concession bids pushed back

September 3, 2012
WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG
THE NATION

Two items on the government's energy agenda - preparations for talks with Cambodia on a solution to the countries' overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand and the plan to open a 21st round of bidding for petroleum exploration and production concessions - are likely to be delayed until next year.

The government had planned to finish its preparations for the negotiations next month and send them to the Cabinet and Parliament for approval. However, completion of the preparations might be postponed until next year, as the government does not want to run the risk of the opposition raising the issues in the upcoming censure debate, an Energy Ministry source said.

Songpope Polachan, director-general of the Department of Mineral Fuels, said both countries would benefit from the development of natural gas fields in the overlapping 26,000 square-kilometre area if they can solve the problem quickly.

Xok An: Cambodia to cooperate with Thailand in oil and gas exploration on Overlapping Claims Area (OCA)

លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ពេលផ្ដល់បទសម្ភាសន៍ ក្រោយបញ្ចប់ជំនួបជាមួយគណៈប្រតិភូ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ​ដែល​ដឹកនាំ​ដោយ​លោក Suradet JIRATITICHAROEN ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ថាមពល នៃ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ

​លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន​៖ កម្ពុជា​បង្ហាញ​ជំហរ​ធ្វើ​អាជីវកម្ម​ប្រេង និង​ឧស្ម័ន ជាមួយ​ថៃ


ថ្ងៃទី 28 កក្កដា 2012
ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ជួបពិភាក្សាជាមួយលោក Suradet JIRATITICHAROEN ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ថាមពល នៃ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ កាលពី​ម៉ោង ៤​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃទី​២៧ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ នៅ​ស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​។​

​បន្ទាប់ពី​បញ្ចប់​ជំនួប​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​គណៈប្រតិភូ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ​នោះ លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ប្រាប់​ក្រុម​អ្នករាយការណ៍​ព័ត៌មាន​យ៉ាងនេះ​ថា លោក​បានធ្វើ​បទ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ បទ​ឧ​ទេ្ទ​សនាម​ជម្រាបជូន​គណៈប្រតិភូ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ​ដែល​ដឹកនាំ​ដោយ​លោក Suradet JIRATITICHAROEN ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ថាមពល នៃ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ អំពី​គោលជំហរ​របស់​កម្ពុជា ក្នុងការ​ចរចា​ជាង ១០​ឆ្នាំ​ហើយ ដើម្បី​រក​រូបមន្ត​ដែល​ភាគី​ទាំងពីរ​ទទួលបាន ដើម្បី​ធ្វើ​អាជីវកម្ម​រួមគ្នា​យក​ប្រេងកាត និង​ឧស្ម័ន​ពី​តំបន់​សមុទ្រ​ត្រួតស៊ីគ្នា​។​

Thailand to revive revoked MoU with Cambodia

BANGKOK, Dec 30 (MCOT online news) - The Thai government is considering reviving the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the kingdom’s maritime border signed with Cambodia in 2001 but which was revoked by the previous government, according to Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

Speaking to the media at Suvarnabhumi Airport upon returning from his official two-day visit to Cambodia, Mr Surapong said the government is considering revoking the cabinet resolution which terminated the MoU on overlapping maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Thailand signed with Cambodia in 2001.

When the MoU is revived, the government could go ahead on negotiations under the framework of MoU, he said.

The MoU was signed by then foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Cambodia's deputy prime minister Sok An on June 14, 2001, under the Thaksin Shinawatra-led administration.

Cambodia, Thailand agree in principle to resume oil deal talks

PHNOM PENH, Dec 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday agreed in principle to resume negotiations on the plan for the joint development of Overlapping Claim Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas.

The verbal agreement was made during a meeting between the minister of the Council of Ministers Sok An, the Chairman of Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, and visiting Thai minister of energy Pichai Naripthaphan.

"In principle, we had shown our intention to resume the negotiations on the overlapping claim area," Pichai told reporters after the meeting. "We want it (the joint development of OCA) to happen for the interests of both countries in terms of energy security for another 40 to 50 years."

Thailand, Cambodia aim for offshore oil development

By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH Dec 29 (Reuters) - Offshore oil and gas reserves in disputed waters of the Gulf of Thailand could take up to a decade to tap, despite progress between Thailand and Cambodia towards restarting talks on joint development, Thailand's energy minister said on Thursday.

The two countries are keen to reach an agreement on joint exploration and development of the Overlapping Claim Area (OCA) in the Gulf, which has been delayed by political upheaval in Thailand and sometimes deadly border disputes.

Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said Thailand would seek parliamentary approval to restore a decade-old Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries that was scrapped by the previous government when relations deteriorated.

Time to do a border deal

18/10/2011
Bangkok Post
EDITORIAL

The flood crisis notwithstanding, Thai-Cambodian relations remain one of the government's top priority issues. On the surface, everything changed right after the July 3 election. From high, dangerous tension, relations with our neighbour switched to sweetness and light. But that welcome switch masks several hard truths, arguably the most important of which is the sea boundary.

In addition to the predictable views of self-styled nationalists, important economic interests are at stake below the Gulf waters off Trat province. Emergency measures to fight the worst of the flood damage are more urgent, but the cabinet will have to come to grips with the Cambodian problem without delay.

The issue of the controversial Memorandum of Understanding was scheduled for cabinet discussion today. It is unlikely that the MoU will make it to the final agenda. But for certain the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will take it up without delay. Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul clearly understands the importance _ and the urgency _ of this problem.

Maritime MoU with Cambodia back on agenda

September 17, 2011
The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that her government would continue its negotiations with Cambodia on maritime issues in accordance with a 2001 memorandum of understanding even though the opposition insists that the pact is flawed.

"We will follow the guidelines set by the 2001 MoU, and the foreign minister will ask the Cabinet to set up a committee to handle the matter soon," Yingluck told reporters.

The prime minister discussed the issue of both sides claiming an overlapping area in the Gulf of Thailand with her Cambodian counterpart when she visited Phnom Penh on Thursday and both agreed to continue negotiations to settle the conflict.

A dispute over whom this overlapping area in the Gulf belongs to has been an issue since the countries signed the MoU in June 2001.

It became controversial when the opposition Democrat Party, backed by its yellow-shirt ally the People's Alliance for Democracy, accused former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of having personal interests related to petroleum-resource concessions in the deal.

Time right for talks on sea boundary

Thanom: Talks must be transparent

6/09/2011
Bangkok Post

In 2009, the Democrat-led government and the People's Alliance for Democracy accused ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of holding secret talks with Cambodia about exploiting oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand.

The government threatened to revoke a memorandum of understanding on overlapping maritime boundaries as it sought to protect its interests and show its displeasure at the alleged secret talks.

The memorandum was signed by then-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in 2001 during the first Thaksin government.

Now the Pheu Thai Party-led government has hit back, accusing former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban of holding secret discussions with Sok An for the same purpose.

THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL talks to Adm Thanom Charoenlarp, adviser to the technical team for maritime boundary negotiations and an expert on maritime zones, to shed some light on the issue.

How important is it for Thailand to enter talks on the overlapping maritime zone with Cambodia?

We should do it now. When we started negotiations with Cambodia in 1970, we believed we still had more time because we still had a lot of energy reserves in the country.

Up until 2001, we were still confident we had about 26 years left to exploit these reserves. But as of today, we have only 10 years left because domestic energy consumption has increased rapidly.

Spat flares up over Koh Kut sovereignty

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut points to the demarcation lines along the Thai-Cambodian border.

6/09/2011
Manop Thip-Osod
Bangkok Post

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut has countered a claim by former deputy premier Surakiart Sathirathai that the 2001 memorandum of understanding between Thailand and Cambodia was intended to claim Thai sovereignty over Koh Kut in Trat.

Mr Surakiart, a deputy prime minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra administration who oversaw foreign, education and cultural affairs, said the signing of the 2001 MoU was intended to assert Thai sovereignty over Koh Kut.

Mr Chavanond, a former secretary to the foreign minister during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, yesterday said several points mentioned by Mr Surakiart were inaccurate.

According to a statement issued by Mr Chavanond, the Thai-Cambodian negotiations over the two countries' disputed areas did not begin during the Thaksin administration. The talks between the two governments had been ongoing for more than 25 years.

Cambodia seeks to resume talks with Thailand about disputed oil and gas zone

30 August 2011

PHNOM PENH (BNO NEWS) -- Cambodia is looking to resume talks with neighboring Thailand to resolve overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Cambodian government body said it has "a firm commitment to finding an equitable and transparent resolution" to the overlapping claims area which consists of a 27,000 square kilometers (10,425 square miles) stretch of seabed which is considered rich in oil and gas.

"The [government] would welcome the resumption of open and official negotiation on this issue and will pursue such a course as soon as practicable," the statement added.

Offshore claims back on agenda with Cambodia

4/08/2011
Yuthana Praiwan
Bangkok Post

PETROLEUM

The Thai government is preparing to revive talks with Cambodia on overlapping petroleum claims, which have been stalled for the last five years.

The Department of Mineral Fuels is preparing information for talks for the new energy minister, said Songpop Polachan, the department's director-general.

Cambodia and Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding in 2001 on joint development of the southern portion of the disputed offshore area, with the northern portion to be divided by a defined maritime border.

Together we gain [... but Thailand would gain without doing much?]

Pheu Thai election win raises hopes for agreement on overlapping petroleum claims, which were almost resolved before the 2006 coup that toppled Thaksin Shinawatra. The result could be huge economic benefits for Cambodia

25/07/2011

James O'Toole

Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH : Diplomatic cables from the American embassy in Phnom Penh released last week by the anti-secrecy organisation WikiLeaks show that Cambodian officials believed they were just months from reaching a deal with Thailand over the overlapping claims area in the Gulf of Thailand when Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a coup in 2006.

The revelations, combined with the victory of the Thaksin-backed Puea Thai party in the July 3 election, suggest that the new government may be positioned to resolve the long-running dispute over the overlapping claims area, which spans roughly 27,000 square kilometres and is thought to contain significant oil and gas reserves.

Cambodia and Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding in 2001 on joint development of the southern portion of the disputed area, with the northern portion to be divided by a defined maritime border. Bangkok cancelled this agreement in 2009, however, in protest over Mr Thaksin's appointment as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

The overlapping claims area is thought to contain up to 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the market intelligence firm CLC Asia, along with unknown quantities of oil.

Revenues from the area could "revolutionise" impoverished Cambodia, Gerry Flaherty, Chevron's general manager for exploration, is quoted as saying in a February 2008 cable from the US embassy in Phnom Penh.

Oil dispute optimism

Thursday, 21 July 2011
James O'Toole and Tom Brennan
The Phnom Penh Post

THE election of Puea Thai has made a solution to the disputed Overlapping Claims Area in the Gulf of Thailand more likely, experts say.

Petroleum companies say they are ready to explore the 27,000 square kilometre region, which is claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia and is thought to contain significant reserves of oil and gas.

The area still remains largely unexplored a decade after the two countries signed a Memorandun of Understanding stipulating joint management of its petroleum resources.

In 2001, Cambodia and Thailand agreed on joint development of the southern portion of the disputed area, with the northern portion to be divided by a defined maritime border.

Thailand and Cambodia Maritime Disputes: Thai Navy's perspectives

Click on the map to zoom in

By Captain Somjade Kongrawd
Originally posted at http://www.navy.mi.th/judge/

Introduction

An acre of sea is worth much more than an acre of infertile land, if there is oil and gas. Thus a number of coastal states have excessive maritime claims in order to fully utilize the benefits potentially empowered by international law, including UNCLOS. In the case of Thailand and Cambodia they have claimed their maritime zones to benefit their national interest leading to a huge overlapped claimed area. However, both try to solve this problem by reaching the memorandum of understanding to negotiate the maritime delimitation and establish the joint development area (JDA).

These disputes were initiated by different interpretation of the Francois-Siamese boundary treaty 1907 . Background fact as a matter of disputes and some arguments of both sides and the principal of delimitation, including scholar's views are given. Activities and conflicts in this area are also presented, followed by the way ahead and conclusion.

Click here to read the article (PDF)

Ministers reaffirm close military ties

27/11/2009
Bangkok Post

The Thai-Cambodia general border committee meeting has reaffirmed that only peaceful means should be used in settling border disputes between the two countries, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Friday afternoon.

The two-day defence minister-level meeting at the Dusit Thani hotel in Pattaya concluded today.

Gen Prawit said the armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia agreed to the following points:

1. The military forces of the two countries deployed along the land and sea border areas will perform their duty based on using peaceful means to settle conflicts. Coordination at all military levels would ensure good understanding on both sides.
2. The armed forces of the two countries will facilitate border trade between Thai and Cambodian people.
3. The armed forces of the two countries agree to maintain good relations with each other and between Thai and Cambodian people by complying with international law and agreements, and based on understanding, sincerity and equality as member countries of Asean.
4. The armed forces of the two countries will support missions and mechanisms of international relations at all levels in order to strengthen ties between Thailand and Cambodia, with the highest target of ensuring the safety of Thai and Cambodian people and enhancing sustainable peace along the border.

Representatives on the Thai side included Gen Prawit, Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jakkabatra, Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda and Army Region 1 Commander Lt-Gen Khanit Saphithak.

The Cambodian entourage was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh.

Kasit misled the [Thai] nation on MOU with Cambodia

November 23, 2009
By Pridiyathorn Devakula
The Nation

It was quite clear that there is not any clause or any wordings in the MoU that would allow the persons who were behind the original draft an edge in giving advice, which would be of special benefit to the Cambodia side over the Thai side in further negotiations. The next negotiation will be under full control of the new negotiators or the new government which would take control of the negotiation.

MATICHON NEWSPAPER, on November 16, published an article on Dr Kriangsak Kittichaiseri who was one of the members in the Thai team that negotiated the drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Cambodia on Overlapping Maritime Boundaries.

Both countries claim the areas, which are known to have a sizeable deposits of oil and natural gas.

The details of the MoU were also published alongside the article. Having read the article and the MoU, I blamed myself for being so na๏ve and listening to the words of our Minister of Foreign Affairs on this issue.

My misunderstanding started from the nationalistic emotion as a Thai. The appointment of Police Lt-Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra, who was sentenced for wrongdoing in some cases by a Thai court, to be personal adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, was deemed as insulting behaviour by the prime minister of Cambodia towards Thailand and its justice system.

I felt it was an adequate retaliation to protect the nation's dignity when, immediately after the appointment, the Thai government recalled the Thai ambassador. Later on, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya threatened to revoke the said MoU, with Minister Kasit saying that the revocation was necessary because the MoU was negotiated and signed during Thaksin's administration. It allowed Thaksin to know all the inside story and important clauses in this MoU.

Such comprehension would enable Thaksin to give advice to our disadvantage and directly impact the negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia under the framework of the MoU.

This story line was also disclosed by Dr Panithan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, which made it more believable. As a Thai who do not want to be taken advantage of by the Cambodian who insulted our dignity, I, of course, concurred that the move to revoke the MoU was intended to protect the interest of Thailand.

Later on, several eminent persons appeared and considerately gave warnings to the government on this matter with good rationale, which shook my original beliefs.

In the end, it was the article by Dr. Kriangsak that made the whole story become clear to me and I realised that I was completely taken in and fooled by Minister Kasit's story, which was a hoax.

It was quite clear that there is not any clause or any wordings in the MoU that would allow the persons who were behind the original draft an edge in giving advice, which would be of special benefit to the Cambodia side over the Thai side in further negotiations. The next negotiation will be under full control of the new negotiators or the new government which would take control of the negotiation.

The outcome of the negotiation in the joint development area with regard to who will be responsible for what, which party would be a developer, which job will be contracted out and to whom, and any commercial conditions, including the proportion of revenue sharing, totally depends on the new government. They would control the negotiation without being bound by any conditions mentioned or even thought of by the Thaksin government in the past.

The outcome of the negotiation in the area that was agreed to be split in various zones or blocs, which party would develop which zone and the percentage of revenue sharing also totally depends on the new government which controls the negotiation. No other person could, therefore, presume in advance using their privilege.

The MoU specified that in order to negotiate further, a joint committee on technical issues must be established, comprising both Thai and Cambodian members.

To my knowledge, such a committee has not yet been established and there is not any instruction or policy from the government to start the negotiation on this matter.

If we want to thwart any chance to make use of the oil and gas supply under the sea in the area that would benefit Cambodia, simply refraining from establishing the joint committee and from any further negotiation would be effective. Otherwise, if we are so troubled that Thaksin could give advice advantageous to Cambodia, we can simply avoid by not appointing the joint committee for further negotiation. I do not see any necessity to revoke this MoU by any means.

Countries which have a joint boundary and overlapping maritime area will be inseparable for thousands of years. A conflict that exists today could, one fine day, disappear. An opportunity to develop the natural resources in the overlapping area would still be ready to be exploited for mutual benefit if we do not allow emotion to take control of ourselves and lead to an unnecessary act of revocation.

However, what upset me most in this circumstance was the fact that our Minister of Foreign Affairs gave false information to the public. This time, it is the information related to the relation with foreign countries, which normally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be especially careful and thoroughly cautious about. When our Minister of Foreign Affairs told an untrue story while our counterpart was aware of the fact, the integrity of the Thai government was at stake, not only in the eyes of our counterpart but also in the eyes of other countries in international arena who may well be aware of the content of this MoU.

I think it is still not too late for the government to change its stance on this issue. Do not be too confident that your proposal to revoke the said MoU will be approved by Parliament. MPs in many parties and even those in the Democrats do think of the national interest as the main objective. I do not want to see the government being changed when this proposal is voted down in the Parliament.

Until next Monday.

Talks dead in the water

Click on the chronology to zoom in

Thailand pulls out of maritime negotiations / Agreements with Cambodia reviewed / Countries recall their ambassadors

6/11/2009
Thanida Tansubhapol, Pradit Ruangdit
Bangkok Post and DPA

The Thai government is striking where it believes Cambodia will feel it most by cancelling talks on the disputed maritime boundary in the Gulf of Thailand, a government source says.

The move comes in retaliation for Phnom Penh's decision to appoint ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser, the source said.

The government, with full backing from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, recalled Thai ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasasvinitchai and reviewed all agreements and cooperation with the neighbouring country.

It is the second time in seven years Thailand has recalled its ambassador from the Cambodian capital.

The previous time was in 2003 in protest against its embassy being burned by Cambodian protesters.

The move to freeze the maritime talks followed the announcement by Phnom Penh on Wednesday of the appointment of Thaksin as a personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and economic adviser to his administration.

"Any action taken by the Royal Thai Government is to make it known to the Royal Government of Cambodia the resentment of the Thai people," a Thai government statement said.

Thailand has made clear to Cambodia on "several occasions that bilateral relations between the two countries should take precedence over any personal relationship", the statement said.

The retaliation measures did not cover loans allocated to Cambodia, according to Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister.

Thailand believed Hun Sen was banking on Thaksin's return to power to quickly convert the idea for the two countries to jointly develop the disputed maritime territory in the Gulf of Thailand, rich in natural gas and oil, into practice.

The main target of the Thai measures was to put the negotiations on the issue on hold to express Thailand's displeasure, the source said.

Mr Chavanond confirmed the memorandum of understanding to settle the dispute over the area was among agreements which would be reviewed.

"We have to assess reasons behind the Cambodian government's present position towards Thailand," he said.

"Is the problem now due to misunderstanding or personal interests?"

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An told a news conference in Phnom Penh Cambodian ambassador to Thailand You Aye would leave Bangkok in response to the Thai move to recall its envoy.

"When the Royal Thai Government resumes the mission of their ambassador to Cambodia, then the Cambodian government will decide to send back our ambassador to Bangkok to continue the mission as normal," Sok An said.

"This is a reciprocal action to the decision by Thailand," he said, adding it would not affect relations, "especially in relation to the people living along the two borders".

The spat took place a day before the Thai and Cambodian premiers will join other leaders of the Mekong subregion at a summit with Japan starting today. But the two have no plans to meet each other to mend fences.

Mr Abhisit said Cambodia's decision to appoint Thaksin was a "thumbing of its nose" at the Thai judicial process and this could hurt the feelings of Thai people.

The statement announcing the appointment of Thaksin, which was read on Cambodian state television on Wednesday, said charges against Thaksin were "politically motivated".

However, the government will make sure measures to respond to Cambodia will not have any adverse consequences on the relations between people of the two neighbouring countries, the prime minister said. Mr Abhisit said he believed Thai people and Cambodian people wanted to be good neighbours.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reiterated that if there was proof Thaksin had settled in Cambodia, the government would take legal steps to have him extradited.

Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the appointment of Thaksin showed Cambodia had rejected Thailand's goodwill and its statement had amounted to an act of interference in Thailand's internal affairs.

A government official familiar with ties with Cambodia, however, was worried about the Thai measures in retaliation to Phnom Penh, which could pose a long-term strain.

"I think they are too harsh," said the official, who requested anonymity.

Former foreign minister Tej Bunnag said the situation would not be conducive to the two countries resolving long-standing border problems.

Thailand cancels MOU with Cambodia on overlapping continental shelf area: Kasit

Friday, November 06, 2009
The Nation

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya Friday announced the cancellation of the Memorandum of Understanding with Cambodia on the overlapping continental shelf area.

Kasit said Thailand canceled the MOU signed in June 2001 after the two countries downgraded their bilateral ties.

What is Hun Sen fishing for?

October 27, 2009
By Avudh Panananda
The Nation

Hot on the heels of the balloon boy incident in Colorado about 10 days ago, the public display of affection by the threesome - Thaksin-Chavalit-Hun Sen -may also go down in the annals of trivia as a hoax.

The Heenes family grabbed worldwide attention by floating an odd-looking balloon and making the spectacle of a six-year-old boy trapped inside it.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen used Pheu Thai Party adviser Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as a conduit to talk about his buddy-buddy ties with fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The balloon boy incident was exposed as a sham as soon as the balloon ran out of hot air. The brouhaha about the political threesome will not outlast the hot air coming out of Hun Sen's mouth.

Unlike the balloon-boy incident, which ended up as a joke, Thai and Cambodian citizens may find themselves in the predicament of a dealing with a sick joke that causes unwarranted concern over the mutual interests of the two neighbouring countries.

Thaksin, Chavalit and Hun Sen have undoubtedly tried to gain their respective advantages. But are they striving to serve Cambodia and Thailand or individual agendas?

It is a myth that the Thaksin-Hun Sen ties go back decades. The two were never close before Thaksin came to power in 2001.

Chavalit, though a self-proclaimed expert on Cambodian affairs, has never had a personal bond with Hun Sen. He relied on his aide Wichit Yathip to arrange his trip last week to Phnom Penh.

Wichit, in turn, works through Defence Minister Tea Banh instead of directly dealing with Hun Sen.

Because of Thaksin's personal touch to push for Thailand Inc diplomacy, Hun Sen looked to Bangkok in a favourable light to further the interests of Cambodia.

The Thaksin administration tried to advance the joint development of the overlapping sea boundaries and cross-border projects coinciding with the promotion of Thai satellite business.

Then, and now, Hun Sen's motive is consistently benefit-driven and not his personal ties with Thaksin.

At the peak of Thaksin's popularity in 2003, Hun Sen wanted to lessen Thai domination in the wireless commnunications business. He pushed for the granting of an operating licence to a Japanese operator.

This led to a failed coup in Phnom Penh. Cambodian leaders, particularly those in the Hun Sen camp, had lingering doubts about the involvement of certain Thai figures. Soon after, Hun Sen fanned the Cambodian backlash on a Thai television actress. This in turned led to riots and the torching of the Thai Embassy.

To this day Thaksin and Hun Sen still cast suspicion on one another although they have been boasting about their buddy-buddy ties for mutual gains.

It is noteworthy that Thaksin posted a profuse thank-you note on Twitter but made no mention about accepting Hun Sen's offer for an exile haven.

In light of Hun Sen's temperamental wrath as shown in 2003, Thaksin is justified in being cautious. He should doubly be on guard because he has yet to deliver a lucrative deal for Koh Kong development using the investment funds from the Gulf countries.

The deal was reportedly brokered in Phnom Penh during a round of golf after he was ousted from power.

If Hun Sen and Thaksin both are truly buddies, then the exile in Phnom Phen should have already happened.

Hun Sen's remarks on his undying friendship were designed to grab publicity. Chavalit and Thaksin managed to inflate their international stature in the eyes of the red shirts.

What's in it for Hun Sen? As a big fish in Tonle Sap, the Cambodian prime minister may want to flex his might in the uncharted waters of the Chao Phya.

It is no secret that he feels restless over the stalled talks on the overlapping sea boundaries. But transplanting himself into the thick of Thai politics is guaranteed to get a flak instead of achieving anything favourable for Cambodia.

Should Hun Sen want results in dealing with Thais, he ought to emulate the example set by Burmese Prime Minister General Thein Sein. In contrast to Hun Sen's megaphone diplomacy, Thein Sein tactfully sent a bouquet of flowers with a get-well message to His Majesty.