Hun Xen blinks first?

Hun Sen calls for peace

7/11/2009
Bangkok Post

“But if the war really breaks out, Thailand will be the winner” - Boasting (or warning?) by Thai Army Region 2 Commander Lt Gen Veevarit Chornsamrit

Cambodian wants to maintain military ties with Thailand even if the two countries have already downgraded diplomatic relations due to conflict over the appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor.

Army Region 2 Commander Lt Gen Veevarit Chornsamrit disclosed on Saturday that Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen had sent his deputy supreme commander Jai Chea Dara to hold talks with him this morning.

“Hun Sen also wants the relations between local people living along the Thai-Cambodia border remains unchanged”, Lt Gen Veevarit said.

Cambodia did not want the border crossings to be closed as it would severely affect border trade of the two countries.

Lt Gen Veevarit said he told the Cambodian general that Cambodia should refrain from using strong words against Thailand as it could worsen the situation.

He insisted that the border crossings will not be shut down as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had clearly stated that he would use only diplomatic means to show Thailand’s disagreement with Thaksin’s appointment.

The premier had said the government would not impose any retaliation measures that could cause difficulties to Thais and Cambodians.

“But if the war really breaks out, Thailand will be the winner”.

Thailand threatens to seal Cambodian border [-If this happens only innocent Cambodians will suffer the most]

A Thai riot policeman patrols past the Cambodia embassy in Bangkok on November 6. Thailand threatened Friday to seal the border with Cambodia in a spiralling diplomatic row over Phnom Penh's naming of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser. (AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)

BANGKOK (AFP) – Thailand threatened Friday to seal the border with Cambodia in a spiralling diplomatic row over Phnom Penh's naming of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser.

The warning came a day after the two countries recalled their respective ambassadors due to the dispute over the appointment of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.

"If Cambodia still adopts a hard line and uncompromising attitude, then we must continue to downgrade relations and maybe seal off all border checkpoints," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.

There were no reports of any incidents along the border so far and trading was going on as normal, Suthep said.

Thailand and Cambodia have fought a series of deadly skirmishes since July 2008 over disputed land that surrounds the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the border.

Thailand boosted security around the Cambodian Embassy after the Cambodian ambassador returned to Phnom Penh early Friday. There have been rallies in recent weeks around the building by anti-Thaksin protesters.

Suthep said Thailand expected Cambodia to reciprocate, adding: "Thaksin should ask Cambodian authorities to secure the Thai embassy and Thai interests in Cambodia," he said.

In 2003 Cambodian protesters set fire to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, again after both countries recalled their ambassadors in a diplomatic row.

Suthep meanwhile said there were no plans for Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to meet his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen when the pair attend a summit of Mekong River basin nations in Tokyo starting Friday.

There was no immediate comment from Phnom Penh.

The Cambodian government announced the appointment of Thaksin as economics adviser on state television late Wednesday, almost two weeks after Hun Sen first floated the idea at a summit of Asian leaders.

Twice-elected Thaksin remains a hugely influential figure in Thailand, which has been rocked by years of protests by his red-clad supporters and yellow-clad opponents, including rallies that shut down Bangkok's airports last year.

Cambodia has rights to appoint Thaksin : Suthep [-Suthep threatens Hun Xen?]

Sam Rainsy

Thu, November 5, 2009
By Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation

"We are well aware that it is the right of Cambodia to appoint Thaksin. But let me ask you this: what would PM Hun Sen say, if we were to appoint Cambodia's Opposition leader Sam Rainsy as our economic adviser" - Suthep Thaugsuban

"It's not worth having problems with Thailand just because of a convicted runaway" - Suthep Thaugsuban

Cambodia's appointment of convicted ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser is the country's internal affair but it should make a clear separation between its personal relationships and those of the country as a whole.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thailand could not do anything about the appointment.

"It's Cambodia's internal affair. But if we have evidence that Thaksin is in Cambodia, we will surely ask the Cambodian government to extradite him," he said.

The Cambodian government has appointed Thaksin, who has been convicted in Thailand for abuse of power and corruption and sentenced to two years in jail, as an economic adviser to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.

"We are well aware that it is the right of Cambodia to appoint Thaksin. But let me ask you this: what would PM Hun Sen say, if we were to appoint Cambodia's Opposition leader Sam Rainsy as our economic adviser," Suthep said.

He did not think Cambodia was ready to have problems with Thailand on the matter. "It is not worth having problems with your neighbouring country just because of a convicted runaway," he said.

If Cambodia refuses to follow the extradition treaty, the Thai government will look into the matter to see whether it violates the bilateral laws, he said.

Thailand bullying Cambodia over Preah Vihear?

Relations sour over Preah Vihear claim

Fri, January 25, 2008
The Nation (Thailand)

Relations with Cambodia have soured after the Defence Ministry alleged yesterday Phnom Penh had "made up" history to claim the ancient Hindu temple of Preah Vihear and get it listed as a United Nations World Heritage site. Published on January 25, 2008

The military condemned Cambodia for creating "false evidence" in order to claim the historic site for its unilateral benefit.

The military demanded the Foreign Ministry lodge an official protest with Phnom Penh, its spokesman Lt-General Pichsanu Puchakarn said.

The matter was a topic at a meeting of the Defence Council yesterday.

Last year, Thailand disputed Cambodia's wish to have the Hindu temple listed as a heritage site on the grounds the two kingdoms should jointly benefit from the ancient attraction. Access to the site is mainly via Thailand, although the temple itself is in Cambodia.

Cambodia created a new boundary to claim sovereignty of the entire area, and was campaigning for international support for this, Pichsanu claimed.

The new government should take the issue seriously, the military said. Phnom Penh could generate anti-Thai sentiment among people living along the border, and this could pose a threat to security on the Thailand side, he said.

"The military, notably the Second Army Region, will be on alert to protect our people and sovereignty," Pichsanu said.

Defence Minister General Boonrawd Somtas was worried and had encouraged everyone to seek a settlement.

"We shall not quarrel over a small piece of land, but let's talk for mutual benefit," the minister said.

The International Court of Justice ruled in June 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but the site has been the core of conflict between the two countries since then.

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram and his Cambodian counterpart, Hor Namhong, discussed greater cooperation in developing the historic temple when Nitya was in Phnom Penh in December.

The two ministers said then there was no dispute, and Thailand agreed to provide technical assistance to train Cambodian workers to restore the ancient site prior to the proposal to list the temple.