Embattled Thai premier to visit neighbours

Thu, 09 Oct 2008
DPA

Bangkok - Embattled Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawak will visit Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar next week despite problems at home, foreign ministry sources said Thursday. Somchai, who was appointed premier on September 25, will visit Laos on Sunday, Cambodia on Monday and Myanmar on Wednesday, the Thai Foreign Ministry announced.

He has scheduled similar one-day visits to Singapore and Indonesia in the near future, said a ministry official.

Somchai has had a tempestuous first week in office.

Anti-government protestors stormed Parliment on Tuesday in an effort to prevent Somchai from reading out his government's policy statement, a first step towards legitimizing any new administration.

Although the protestors, followers of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), failed to prevent Somchai from entering Parliament and launching his rule, he had to flee the parliament compound later in the day by jumping a fence and hopping on a helicopter.

Somchai has come under heavy criticism for allowing police to fire tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, leading to a bloody clash between police and PAD members Tuesday that left two dead and more than 400 injured.

The PAD is staunchly opposed to the return to power of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was toppled by a coup on September 19, 2006. Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

Despite the rocky start for his government, Somchai has vowed to keep all of Thailand's international commitments, including playing host to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in mid-December.

Thai, Cambodia leaders schedule temple dispute meeting

Wednesday, October 01, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to meet in Cambodia in 2 weeks time.

A Thai foreign ministry spokesman has confirmed discussions will centre on a dispute over two temples currently occupied by Thailand.

The Bangkok Post reports Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wangsawat will visit his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on October 13.

The paper says the Thai government is seeking parliamentary approval for the meeting to avoid any violation of the constitution.

Somchai to visit Cambodia, seeks end to row

BORDER DISPUTES

PM to visit Cambodia, seeks end to row

Wednesday October 01, 2008
TANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

The disputes over Ta Muen Tom Moan Thom and Ta Kwai Krabey temples will be high on the agenda of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat when he visits Cambodia on Oct 13.

Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said a Cambodian foreign affairs official had told foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that ''Thailand is occupying these two areas''.

Cambodia wanted to discuss the issue during the visit to Phnom Penh by the prime minister, he added.

Thailand is confident the two temples are in Phanom Dong Rak district in Surin. Ta Kwai temple is called Ta Krabey by Cambodians.

Mr Sompong reaffirmed the next Joint Boundary Commission meeting would be held after Parliament gives it the go-ahead. The Foreign Ministry wants Parliament's approval for the meeting to avoid any violation of the constitution.

Asean foreign ministers were satisfied Thailand and Cambodia would be able to handle the problems through the bilateral talks, he said.

UN Secretary-General Bun Ki Moon agreed it was unnecessary for the two countries to bring the issues to the UN Security Council, Mr Sompong said.

Asean ministers held talks on Monday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.