PM denies plot to kill Thaksin [-Abhisit: Deny! Deny! Deny!]

20/12/2009
Apinya Wipatayotin
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday dismissed an opposition claim that an assassination plot had been hatched against Thaksin Shinawatra, insisting that the government would only use legal means to bring him back to serve his two-year jail sentence.

In his first comment on the leak of a classified document to the Puea Thai Party from a source at the Foreign Ministry, the prime minister, speaking from Copenhagen, said the government would strictly abide by the law in its efforts to bring back Thaksin.

"I have no idea where that document came from. But I can assure you that the government will not take any unlawful steps in seeking his return," he said.

Only extradition treaties the government has signed with other countries would be used to try to bring the convicted former prime minister back to serve his time, he said.

Thaksin was sentenced in October last year while he was out of the country to a two-year jail term in the Ratchadaphisek land case for helping his ex-wife acquire a prime piece of state land at a heavily discounted price.

Puea Thai representative Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, on Friday unveiled a secret document, dated Nov 16, that he claimed was prepared for the prime minister by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

The document, which mainly focused on how Thailand should handle its relations with Cambodia amid the diplomatic spats, described Thaksin as a "key factor" in the destabilisation of the government. The Thaksin threat needed to be tackled, it said.

Mr Jatuporn interpreted it as a life-threatening measure against Thaksin. After the document was disclosed, the ministry set up a panel to find out how it ended up in the hands of the opposition.

Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said only a few senior officials were aware of the existence of the classified paper.

Mr Jatuporn yesterday indicated that the opposition party and the UDD will not end its efforts to bring down the government and denied any wrongdoing in revealing the contents of the confidential document to the public.

The prime minister condemned the opposition party, saying it had gone too far by using dirty tricks which were damaging to the government and the country.

[Retaliatory against Cambodia] Documents leak faces probe

19/12/2009
Thanida Tansubhapol and Aekarach
Bangkok Post

The Foreign Ministry will set up a fact-finding committee to investigate how classified documents detailing possible retaliatory measures against Cambodia were leaked to the public.

Thani Thongpakdi, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman, yesterday said the ministry will seek advice from public prosecutors on a possible lawsuit against Puea Thai Party member Jatuporn Prompan for allegedly violating the 1997 Information Act and a 2001 state regulation.

The leaked documents involved an analysis of Thai-Cambodian relations and recommendations for future actions.

The documents, which were prepared by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, have been reportedly sent to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, he said.

Mr Jatuporn said yesterday that additional documents that had not yet been revealed to the media pinpointed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a serious threat to the country.

These documents outlined action plans, including a range of measures against Cambodia due to its dispute with Thailand stemming from Thaksin.

"The documents mention the root cause of the problem and the elimination of [Thaksin's] influence which means it must be eliminated before the end of 2009 or within April 2010," said Mr Jatuporn.

He claimed the other set of documents also suggested the speeding up of the asset seizure trial against the fugitive leader by Jan 6 next year. But he refused to unveil the documents.

Meanwhile, Democrat spokesman Buranat Samutarak said the government had no plans to attack Thaksin.

He also shrugged off claims by Cambodia that Thailand had sent its troops to encroach on Cambodian territory.

Thailand reviews aid to Cambodia after Thaksin row

BANGKOK, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Thailand's cabinet was reviewing aid to Cambodia on Tuesday, a government official said, the latest move in a diplomatic row triggered by a visit by fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the neighbouring country.

The cabinet will discuss various retaliatory measures, including freezing low-interest loans to build roads in Cambodia, during its weekly meeting, said Panitan Wattanayagorn, deputy secretary-general to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"Most of the projects discussed are aid and loans for infrastructure projects, which might be delayed or cancelled," Panitan said.

"The government will also look at all other projects with Cambodia and discuss appropriate measures, but we will make sure it does not hurt the public."

Thaksin went to Cambodia after its prime minister, Hun Sen, offered him a job as an economic adviser. The Cambodian government rejected Bangkok's request to extradite him.

Thaksin returned to self-imposed exile last year ahead of a court judgment that found him guilty of violating a conflict of interest law while in office and sentenced him to two years in jail. He was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006.

His visit to Cambodia further strained relations between the two neighbours. They recalled their ambassadors and a Thai man was arrested in Cambodia for alleged spying.

Panitan said the cabinet would discuss ways to assist the man, who works as an engineer for the Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS).

He is accused of sending Thaksin's flight schedule to a Thai diplomat, who was expelled from Cambodia last week for allegedly breaching diplomatic protocol.

The Thai government says the information was publicly available. An embassy official in Phnom Penh was allowed to see the engineer on Tuesday but was not informed of any formal charges.

Abhisit urged Cambodia on Monday to follow "international standards" in pursuing any case against him.

Thailand has already said it would scrap a 2001 memorandum of understanding on energy development in the Gulf of Thailand.

The agreement was signed under Thaksin's administration, with the aim of finding a way to jointly develop oil and gas resources in disputed waters, although little progress has been made.

Thaksin left Cambodia on Saturday. He spends most of his time in Dubai.

(Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Ambika Ahuja; Editing by Alan Raybould)

Cabinet to consider revoking MOU with Cambodia

BANGKOK, Nov 6 (TNA) - Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya said he would ask the cabinet to consider revoking a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Thailand and Cambodia on overlapping maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Thailand as the MoU would be affected by the appointment of convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic advisor to Cambodian government.

The MoU regarding the Area of their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf, dated 18 June 2001 was signed by then-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

Mr Kasit said the government had ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review all existing bilateral agreements and cooperation projects made with Cambodia and review ongoing cooperation that the Thai government has extended to Cambodia.

Having learned that Mr Thaksin has been appointed as an economic advisor to the government of Cambodia, he said, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will propose to the Cabinet that the said MOU be terminated.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the view that the appointment of Mr Thaksin will directly affect negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia under the framework of this MOU due to the fact that Mr Thaksin was directly involved in the negotiation process.

Furthermore, the ministry believes that the overlapping claims of area between Thailand and Cambodia are matters of national interest, in particular, when considering that the overlapping area is over 26,000 square kilometres and has great potential in terms of natural resources.

Negotiations on this matter thus affect immensely the economic and national security of Thailand. Therefore, the ministry deems it appropriate to proceed on this matter with public participation in line with democratic principles enshrined in the provisions of the present Constitution.

Negotiations under the framework of the MOU 2001 during the previous eight years have produced no progress. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes both countries should employ other avenues of negotiation in accordance with the principles of international law to achieve an equitable solution.

Thai PM stands firm on downgrading diplomatic ties with Cambodia

TOKYO, Nov 6 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reaffirmed on Friday that Thailand has downgraded its diplomatic ties with neighbouring Cambodia in an attempt to protect the Thai judicial system and the benefits of the Thai people, following the appointment of convicted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

The Thai premier made comments while he was attending the first Mekong-Japan Summit in the Japanese capital of Tokyo, where Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia was also present.

Mr Abhisit said that the downgraded diplomatic ties is a retaliation by Thailand against the Cambodian government after it appointed Mr Thaksin as personal adviser to Mr Hun Sen and as economic advisor to the Cambodian government, while also insisting it will not extradite Mr Thaksin if he stays in Cambodia.

"I think that the Thai government and Thai people have (remained) patient over the matter for a while," said the Thai premier. "This problem needs to be solved by the two countries, but the problem is not caused by the Thai government."

"It depends on the Cambodian government to consider what to do after this," said Mr Abhisit. "We will give them time to reconsider, as the incident has just happened."

The Thai premier added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has steps in the mechanism on downgrading diplomatic relations and had prepared the next appropriate diplomatic move towards Cambodia and that his government will consider in what aspect should be accelerated or delayed.

Mr Abhisit reasserted that the Thai government will not do anything to cause violence and that the action of the Thai government will not affect the interest of Thai people.

When asked what to do if Cambodian government remains unresponsive to the matter, the Thai premier said that Thailand has already expressed its stance at a certain level and will consider further measures in accordance with circumstances.

The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry on Thursday recalled the Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh and announced it will review all existing bilateral agreements and cooperation projects made with Cambodia, as its first retaliation against the Cambodian government for interfering in Thailand’s domestic affairs and failure to respect Thailand’s judicial system.

Cambodia later withdrew its envoy to Thailand in a reciprocal action.

Thai-Cambodian border remains 'calm'

6/11/2009
Bangkok Post

The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border remains normal and there is no sign that Cambodian troops are being reinforced, 2nd Army commander Lt-Gen Weewalit Chornsamrit said on Friday.

Relations between local people in border villages of the two countries were unchanged.

He said he had personally tried to create a good understanding with the local people and had advised them not to panic every time tensions rise between the two goverments. Both governments preferred peaceful solutions.

Lt-Gen Weewalit said that there is still no plan to close the border. The army commander-in-chief chief had ordered his troops to maintain good relations with Cambodia.

The latest dispute between Thailand and Cambodia centres on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's appoointment of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser and his announcement the fugitive politician's conviction by the Thai Supreme Court was "politically motivated" and that he would not permit his ''close friend'' to be extradited.

Thailand on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh, prompting a similar move by Cambodia in a retaliation.

JBC chair: Thai-Cambodian diplomatic spat on Thaksin may affect border talks

BANGKOK, Nov 6 (TNA) – The Thai co-chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) admitted Friday that the diplomatic spat between the two countries following the appointment of convicted Thai premier as economic adviser to the Cambodian government may affect the future talks on the border dispute between the two neighbouring countries.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday recalled the Thai envoy to Phnom Penh, in its first retaliation to Cambodia after it appointed convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as personal advisor to Cambodian Premier Hun Sen and advisor on economy to his government.

Cambodia later withdrew its envoy to Thailand in a reciprocal action.

The Thai foreign ministry reasoned that the Cambodian decision to appoint Mr Thaksin and its stated intention to deny Thailand's request to extradite the ex-Thai premier to face jail in Thailand means that the neighbouring country could not differentiate between the bilateral relations of the two nations and personal ties, and that Cambodia is now intervening Thailand's domestic affairs and harming the Thai justice procedure.

Vasin Teeravechyan, advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in his capacity as border commission co-chairman, said that the Thai decision to recall its ambassador to Phnom Penh is considered normal retaliation against the Cambodian government, while Cambodia also responded at the same level of reciprocal action by withdrawing its ambassador to Bangkok.

Mr Vasin said that no special procedure is needed if the two countries want to restore their diplomatic ties.”It depends on the circumstances,” he added. “If the situation eases up, the relationship between the two kingdoms will be restored automatically.

"If the Cambodian government revokes its order appointing Mr Thaksin as its adviser, it can be assumed that the ambassadors of the two countries can resume their duties," JBC co-chairman Vasin said.

He admitted, however, that the latest diplomatic spat on the Thaksin case will make the work under the JBC framework more difficult, although it has not yet had a direct impact on the commission.

He described that three JBC minutes can still not proceed as they have not been approved by the Thai Parliament.

"Whether the work under JBC framework will be delayed or not depends on the policy of the government and Parliament," said the JBC co-chairman. "Until now I have not been informed any order from the government."

Tensions between the neighbouring countries flared after the United Nations cultural body UNESCO approved Cambodia's bid in July last year to list the 11th century temple as a world heritage site, while the question of sovereignty over the 4.6 square kilometres of surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

The two neighbouring countries however reiterated to solve the border conflicts peacefully through JBC mechanism, while there were some clashes between the soldiers of two countries along the border.

Job offer threatens to spark diplomatic dispute

November 6, 2009
ABC Radio Australia

A job being offered to Thailand's convicted former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is threatening to turn into a full-blown diplomatic incident.

Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has engaged Mr Thaksin as an economic advisor, ignoring moves by Thailand to extradite Mr Thaksin for corruption.

In response, Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh and Cambodia has responded in kind.

Presenter: Karen Percy, South East Asia correspondent
Speaker: Panitan Wattanayakorn, Thai government spokesman

Click here to listen to the audio program (Windows Media)

Thailand to review all bilateral pacts with Cambodia [-Is Thaksin worth the trouble?]

Nov 6, 2009
DPA

As part of the review Thailand has cancelled talks on a disputed maritime boundary in the Gulf of Thailand, effectively ending plans to jointly exploit petroleum resources in the offshore area, the Bangkok Post reported.

Bangkok - Thailand plans to review all bilateral agreements and cooperation projects with Cambodia after the two countries recalled their ambassadors in an escalating diplomatic spat over fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, reports said Friday.

The Thai government on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Cambodia, Prasas Prasasvinitchai, after Phnom Penh appointed Thaksin an honorary economic advisor, a not-so-diplomatic gesture towards the current Thai government which regards the ex-premier an archenemy.

Cambodia reciprocated by recalling its ambassador to Bangkok, You Ay.

'The appointment of Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin as economic advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia and personal advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen is seen as interference with Thailand's domestic affairs and a failure to respect Thailand's judicial system,' the Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It added that the government will also review all bilateral agreements and cooperation projects with Cambodia.

As part of the review Thailand has cancelled talks on a disputed maritime boundary in the Gulf of Thailand, effectively ending plans to jointly exploit petroleum resources in the offshore area, the Bangkok Post reported.

The move was seen as retaliation against Hun Sen, who has trumpeted his personal friendship with Thaksin, a former billionaire telecommunications tycoon with past business dealings in Cambodia.

'Thailand believes 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 Bangkok Post claimed, citing government sources.

Thaksin was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before being toppled by a coup. He faces a two-year jail sentence in Thailand for abuse of power for allowing his billionaire wife in 2003 to successfully bid on a prime plot of Bangkok land in a government auction.

Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai, since August 2008 but continues to be a thorn in the side of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government.

'Mr Thaksin is well-known and very successful in business,' Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said Thursday. 'We consider him as a good quality human resource for Cambodia, and we need people from every corner of the globe to build this country.'

Thaksin has accepted Cambodia's offer according to a message he posted on his Twitter site.

Thailand has threatened to ask for Thaksin's extradition should he arrive in Cambodia, but Phnom Penh has said it would refuse to do so 'under any circumstances' as it considers his conviction politically motivated.

Thaksin was overthrown after he lost the backing of Thailand's Bangkok-based middle class and political elite. He remains popular with the poor because of his populist economic policies.

Recall of envoys escalates Thai-Cambodian tensions

2009-11-05
By GRANT PECK
Associated Press

Thailand and Cambodia have recalled their ambassadors from each other's country in a diplomatic spat over Phnom Penh naming fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra a government adviser.

The actions are a major escalation in tensions between the two countries, which have also had a series of small, but sometimes deadly, skirmishes over the demarcation of their border.

Thailand recalled its ambassador Thursday afternoon, saying it considered the appointment of Thaksin to be interference in its internal affairs. It also said it would review all of its agreements with Cambodia.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An later said that his government was withdrawing its envoy in a reciprocal action.

Thailand needs to make diplomatic retaliation against Cambodia: Abhisit

Thai ambassador leaving Cambodia (Photo: DAP)

Thursday, November 05, 2009
The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday that Thailand needed to make diplomatic retaliation against Cambodia's interference of Thailand's internal affairs.

"The Foreign Ministry has to take action so that Cambodia will learn about the feelings of Thai people," Abhisit said.

"Since Cambodia mentioned our internal affairs, we had to retaliate in line with the diplomatic protocol."

He was speaking to reporters after the Foreign Ministry announce the recalling of its ambassador to Phnom Penh after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra his economic advisor.

Thailand recalls envoy to Phnom Penh in protest against Cambodia

BANGKOK, Nov 5 (TNA) - Thailand's Ministry of Foreign affairs on Thursday recalled the Thai envoy to Phnom Penh, in its first step of retaliation to Cambodia after it has appointed convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as personal advisor to Cambodian Premier Hun Sen and advisor on economy to his government.

The Thai foreign ministry reasoned that the Cambodian decision to appoint Mr Thaksin and its stated intention to deny Thailand's request to extradite the ex-Thai premier to face jail in Thailand means that the neighbouring country could not differentiate the bilateral relations of the two nations from personal ties, although the Thai government has repeatedly informed the Cambodian government that the two kingdoms' relationship must remain beyond personal ties.

The Thai foreign ministry said the decision made by the Cambodian government affects the feelings of the Thai people, as Mr Thaksin has been convicted of offenses and escaped jail, at the same time, he still has influence over domestic politics.

Mr Thaksin’s appointment as economic advisor of the Cambodian government and as personal advisor to Mr Hun Sen means that Cambodia is now intervening Thailand's domestic affairs and harming the Thai justice procedure, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Thai government cannot continue inattentive to the matter and must listen to the voice and sentiments of Thai people nationwide, said the foreign ministry, adding that the government must show its stance to let Cambodia know of the dissatisfaction of the Thai people.

The ministry said that Thailand has decided to review the Thai-Cambodian relationship and recall its ambassador to Phnom Penh, and review all commitments and cooperation between the two kingdoms.

The Thai ministry said that the Thai government has no choice, but must review bilateral cooperation although Thailand has always intended to work closely with Cambodia for the well-being of the Cambodian people and reduce gap between Cambodians and other ASEAN citizens.

The ministry said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been informed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s stance, simultaneously affirming that the Thai reaction is based on appropriate diplomatic measures, but is not aimed at igniting any violence.

The Thai prime minister later reaffirmed that Thailand will use only diplomatic measures as retaliation against Cambodia.

"Cambodia's decision affects the feelings of Thai people," Mr Abhisit reiterated. "The Thai foreign ministry must show Thailand's stance to let the Cambodian government know the feeling of the Thai people."

Mr Abhisit said checkpoints on border between the two countries would remain open and people-to-people relations would not be affected.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia heightened when Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen announced while attending the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Hua Hin at the end of October that Mr Thaksin, whom he described as his close friend, could remain in Cambodia as his personal guest and could be his economic advisor.

Mr Hun Sen insisted that Cambodia will reserve its right to deny any request by Thailand to extradite ousted prime minister Thaksin if he stays there as Mr Thaksin case’s is only a political offense.

Mr Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, was later convicted and sentenced to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok Ratchadapisek land purchase.

The ousted premier however jumped bail and fled the kingdom. He is reportedly living the United Arab Emirates, but his Thai passport was revoked and his visas to the United Kingdom and Germany were cancelled.

Thailand recalls its ambassador to protest Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin

Thursday, November 05, 2009
Prasas Prasavinitchai
The Nation

Thailand on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh, Prasas Prasavinitchai, to protest Cambodia's appointment of convicted ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra as economic advisor to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.

Thai government will demand for reviews of all bilateral agreements Thailand has with Cambodia, according to the statement issued on Thursday.

Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh Prasart is scheduled to return to Bangkok at 3pm.

Thailand recalls envoy to Cambodia over Thaksin job: PM

Thursday, November 05, 2009
AFP

Abhisit said aid to Cambodia would also be halted

BANGKOK — Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia Thursday after Phnom Penh gave a job to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, further raising tensions between the countries.

The Cambodian government said on Wednesday night that it had appointed Thaksin as an economics adviser, riling Bangkok, which is trying to bring Thaksin home to face justice three years after he was ousted in a coup.

"We have recalled the ambassador as the first diplomatic retaliation measure to let the Cambodian government know the dissatisfaction of the Thai people," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.

"Last night's announcement by the Cambodian government harmed the Thai justice system and really affected Thai public sentiment," Abhisit said.

Abhisit said aid to Cambodia would also be halted, but checkpoints on the disputed border between the two countries would remain open and "people-to-people relations would not be affected."

A government official said earlier that the ambassador to Phnom Penh would be recalled by Thursday evening in retaliation for Cambodia's "interference" in Thai politics.

"The reason is that the appointment of Thaksin is considered interfering in our internal politics because Thaksin is still actively involved in politics," Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thailand's foreign affairs minister, told AFP.

Thaksin remains a hugely influential figure in Thailand, where he has stirred up mass protests by the so-called "Red Shirt" movement against Abhisit's government in the past year.

Ties between Cambodia and Thailand have been difficult since July 2008 amid an ongoing border conflict over land surrounding an 11th century temple which has claimed several lives.

Somchai seeks talks with Hun Sen, says external mediation not necessary

Sunday October 19, 2008
WASSANA NANUAM AND REUTERS
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said he would seek face-to-face talks with Cambodian leader Hun Sen after the recent border clash near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

"I am looking for the right time to talk with him. We should have an opportunity to talk," Mr Somchai told reporters after visiting Thai troops stationed along the border yesterday.

The Thai leader echoed Hun Sen's comments on Friday that outside mediation was not necessary to solve the dispute.

"This is between Thailand and Cambodia. We should not let other countries get involved," Mr Somchai said.

Both sides have tried to ease tensions since at least two Cambodian soldiers were killed in Wednesday's 40-minute firefight.

Two Cambodians and seven Thais were wounded.

Both leaders were expected to attend an Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Beijing next week to discuss the global financial crisis, but it was not clear whether they would meet on the sidelines.

Thailand's Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wibulsak Neepal said border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are likely to ease soon as Cambodia is expected to be more willing to enter talks with Thailand.

He said military officers from both sides have been in regular contact and have worked closely together over the past two days.

"The situation should improve. Both sides have had lunch. We have been coordinating all the time," he said.

Lt-Gen Wibulsak, however, admitted that as long as Thai and Cambodian troops are stationed face-to-face, clashes at the border are possible.

Lt-Gen Wibulsak said army commander Gen Anupong Paojinda had given him full authority under the "Chakkri Phuwadol" national defence plan to take retaliatory measures in the event that Cambodian forces fired artillery across the border.

He said Thai troops would retaliate within reason but would try to prevent any small skirmishes from escalating.

Meanwhile, a Thai soldier patrolling at Phu Ma Khua was accidentally killed by a bullet from his own gun yesterday.

Private Winyu Polpruek, who was attached to the Second Infantry Battalion, suffered a gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, where he was pronounced dead.