Cambodia Not Harboring Thaksin: Official

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
08 April 2009

Cambodia will not jeopardize its relationship with Thailand by secretly housing the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, a foreign ministry spokesman said Wednesday.

Theptai Senapong, a spokesman for Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, said on Saturday he believed Thaksin was staying near the home of Prime Minister Hun Sen on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, and on Tuesday Thailand’s foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, said ties between the two countries could be strained if the reports are true.

However, Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Kuy Kuong, denied Thaksin was in the country.

“Cambodia wishes to have a good relationship with its neighbors, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam,” he said. “There is no Thaksin in Cambodia. So bilateral ties between Cambodia and Thailand will not be affected.”

Thaksin, who is popular with rural Thais and enjoyed close ties with Hun Sen during his tenure as prime minister, has been found guilty of corruption by a Thai court and is living in exile.

Thailand’s ruling government is coming under pressure from demonstrators loyal to Thaksin to step down and allow elections, the latest round in a series of political turbulence.

“If the government allows Thaksin to come into Cambodia, the Cambodian government will declare publicly his entrance, without secrecy,” Kuy Kuong said.

Kasit's warning to Hun Sen: Don't harbor your friend Thaksin or else...

Cambodia warned on ex-PM Thaksin

April 7, 2009
The Nation

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya warned Cambodia yesterday that bilateral ties could be adversely affected if ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra is allowed to launch political attacks from that country.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was trying to verify reports that Thaksin was spotted in Cambodia.

"If Cambodia loves Thaksin that much, the ties with Thailand will certainly have problems," said Kasit.

Thaksin, who has been convicted in a corruption case, has made nightly speeches through a video link-up from overseas to his supporters gathering outside Government House. Democrat Party figure Theptai Senapong claimed he was informed that Thaksin was seen in Cambodia recently.

The foreign minister said yesterday that he had invited diplomats from various countries - including those from Latin America, the Middle East and Africa - for a meeting tomorrow when he would explain to them the Thai justice process regarding Thaksin's cases. He also would ask countries without an extradition treaty with Thailand to send back Thaksin voluntarily to face legal action.

Kasit said Thailand has informed countries with no extradition treaties with Thailand about Thaksin' status and "how he has created a crisis for the country". These states include Dubai, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

"Many countries have responded by not allowing Thaksin to use their territory in launching his attacks against Thailand," Kasit said.

Kasit was speaking at the Democrat Party headquarters while attending the celebration of the 63rd anniversary of the country's oldest political party.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he expected to discuss with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen the border dispute between the two countries.