Thaksin arrives in Cambodia

Red Shirts posing with armed security sent by Hun Xen to protect Thaksin, his Siamese croc friend

14/04/2012
Bangkok Post

"If a Cambodian group banned from returning to Cambodia [rallied] in Thailand, what would we think? It would be a jumbled relationship."

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived on Saturday in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where thousands of his supporters were waiting to greet him.

He was welcomed by red-shirts from Surin province who were waiting for him at the City Angkor Hotel since the morning.

Thaksin was scheduled to take to the stage to talk to his supporters at a local stadium at 5pm. A Buddhist ceremony with 260 monks from Angkor Wat and a Songkran water-pouring ceremony for Thaksin are planned in Siem Reap on Sunday.

Thaksin supporters have been traveling to Siem Reap via road from Thailand since Wednesday. Provincial authorities have set aside a 22-hectare campsite for them about two kilometres outside of Siem Reap.

The Phnom Penh government has said that it will foot the bill to provide crowd control and protection for the deposed Thai leader, who has strong links to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Puea Thai's Picnic

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Pheu Thai members head to Cambodia to meet Thaksin [-Hun Neang about to croak?]

16/03/2012
Aekarach Sattaburuth
Bangkok Post

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has arrived in Cambodia to visit the sick father of Prime Minister Hun Sen, said a Pheu Thai Party source.

Many members of the Pheu Thai Party have flown to Cambodia to meet Thaksin, the source added yesterday.

Thaksin will tour countries in the region for a while before returning to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where he lives in exile.

Thaksin was spotted by reporters at Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort in Siem Reap. He was accompanied by former Thai Rak Thai executive Yongyuth Tiyapairat, red shirt leader Suporn Attawong and National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department chief Damrong Pidech.

Yingluck Shinawatra's Foreign Policy

Thaksin's foreign policy

Friday, 20 January 2012
Written by Pavin Chachavalpongpun
Asia Sentinel

Taking over where Thaksin left off

It has been six months since the July election that brought the first woman into Thailand's top political position—Yingluck Shinawatra.

During this period, Prime Minister Yingluck has encountered several difficult issues, ranging from the devastating floods, the attempt to provide amnesty for her fugitive brother Thaksin, and the increasing cases of lèse-majesté.

But there is one area in which Yingluck has appeared to be doing well so far—foreign affairs. It is fair to say that since Thaksin’s downfall in 2006, Thailand has had no tangible foreign policy. The Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat governments were short-lived. And the Abhisit Vejjajiva period was marked by conflicts with neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia.

It is therefore a real test for Yingluck to reinvent Thai diplomacy, the one that departs from antagonism toward neighbouring countries. In terms of Thai-Cambodian relations, Yingluck paid a high-profile visit to Cambodia, as the first country in her introductory tour. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was gleeful to roll out a red carpet to receive the Thai female premier. For now, relationship between the two countries has returned to normalcy. And the secret to this success is that issues in this bilateral relationship have simply become less politicised, particularly on the Thai part.

Court ruling seen as pivotal to ending border row

Yingluck asks Cambodia to withdraw ICJ complaint, but Hun Sen wants a judgement issued instead

2/01/2012

By Thanida Tansubhapol

Bangkok Post

The love-hate relationship between Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia will keep simmering this year - and pundits are doubtful the border dispute between the two countries will be resolved in a hurry.

Both countries are now looking forward to the International Court of Justice ruling over the ownership of the 4.6 sq km overlapping area around Preah Vihear temple. The ICJ will rule on the case late this year or next year.

Some pundits believe that no matter what decision is handed down, it might be the last hope of the two countries to end the long-running border row.

Critics say the border dispute between the two nations, especially over the area around the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple, is the root cause of bickering between both nations.

Cambodian, Thai FMs pledge to intensify bilateral cooperation

PHNOM PENH, Dec 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's foreign minister Hor Namhong and his visiting Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Thursday agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in all fields for the interests of both people and countries.

"We had agreed to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, tourism, and humanitarian activities," Hor Namhong told reporters in a joint press briefing after a one-hour meeting with Surapong.

Both sides agreed to work together to open a new Stung Bath border checkpoint near Poipet checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province as soon as possible to cope with the increasing growth of goods and tourists between the two nations, he said.

Yingluck's administration brings close ties for Cambodia, Thailand: Cambodia PM

PHNOM PENH, Dec 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday hailed the Thai government led by Yingluck Shinawatra for her efforts to restore good relations with Cambodia.

Speaking at a meeting with visiting Thai foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan at the Phnom Penh's Peace Palace, Hun Sen said that the bilateral relations between Cambodia and Thailand have "turned good" since the Pheu Thai Party led by Yingluck Shinawatra won the general election in July this year.

He added that it was the open of the new chapter of Cambodian and Thai relations and cooperation.

The future refusing to be born: Thai fascism, genocide and the “Primister”

Nov 19, 2011
By Andrew Spooner
Asian Correspondant

With talk ratcheting up of a pardon for the former Thai PM, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was illegally ousted in a coup in 2006, the Thai right wing and supporters of the neo-fascist PAD seem to have descended into a hysterical meltdown. Is this a sign of their increasing desperation as they realise that the wheels of history are turning against them? Famous British Labour Party MP and minister, Aneurin Bevan, who founded the UK’s National Health Service in 1946, once summed up fascism in one pithy comment and it seems as relevant today to Thailand’s PAD as it was to 1930s European fascism -

Fascism is not in itself a new order of society. It is the future refusing to be born.

First, there’s the issue of the present prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra’s use of the English language (Siam Voices contributor Kaewmala has her take on the entire matter here which I’m roundly in agreement with).What Kaewmala has missed though, are some of the terrible and highly amusing English language manglings made by Yingluck’s critics, the best of which is below.

Thai neo-fascists attack Yingluck's English while mangling their own

Insight: Thai flood crisis puts swamped PM in firing line

Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (front R) greets people as she visits a flooded area in Nonthaburi province on the outskirts of Bangkok September 18, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Sukree Sukplang

Fri Oct 28, 2011
By Martin Petty and Jason Szep

BANGKOK (Reuters) - In the early days of Thailand's devastating floods, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was seen knee-deep in muddy waters in wading boots, greeting evacuated villagers, surrounded by clicking cameras and appearing to take charge.

Fast-forward a month, as the worst floods in half a century close in on inner-city Bangkok, Yingluck's three-month-old government is under fire for badly managing the crisis -- from shoddy policy coordination to poor communication and conflicts with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

With rising river waters this weekend threatening to breach dikes protecting the city of 12 million, her decisions and her mis-steps are fodder for critics and political pundits.

Yingluck-Abhisit Discuss Flood Woes [-How a democracy should function]

BANGKOK, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- As Thailand faces a critical flood situation, both government and opposition politicians are working hand-in-hand to address the crisis, in a display of rare political spirit shown in this region.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was the former prime minister and some Democrat party leaders, visited the Don Mueang Airport here at 12.20pm, where the Flood Relief Command Centre is located.

At that time, his successor, Yingluck Shinawatra, had just finished chairing a weekly Cabinet meeting at the airport.

They greeted each other and both began discussing the flood problem.

For Thailand’s New Leader, Floodwaters Present a Political Test

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand arrived at the flood relief operation center in Bangkok on Thursday.(AP)

October 20, 2011
By SETH MYDANS
The New York Times

BANGKOK — Two months after taking office, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra faces a test of leadership that could shape her administration, surrounded not only by floodwaters surging against barriers around Bangkok but also by critics and political opponents ready to take advantage of any misstep.

Ms. Yingluck acknowledged on Thursday that efforts to divert the flood around Bangkok were failing, and she said the government would now attempt a controlled release that would allow floodwaters to drain through some areas of the city.

“Today, we have exhausted every resource we have to slow down the water, be they damming or water-retention areas,” she said.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: A Repeat Coup

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

A repeat of the 2006 coup is a possiblity if the government is bent on flexing its power to rescuing just one fugitive, Thaksin Shinawatra instead of serving the public, former charter writer Prasong Soonsiri said on Tuesday.

Surapong: Hun Sen will help Veera, Ratree get pardons [-Hun Xen's gift to Yingluck?]

Veera Somkwamkid

27/09/2011
Bangkok Post

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has shown an intention to help Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwankid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon get a royal pardon, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said in New York on Tuesday.

Mr Surapong said the matter was discussed with Hun Sen when he and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited Cambodia on Sept 15.

The Cambodian prime minister said he would help by getting a reduction of the jail terms they were sentenced to by the Phnom Penh Court. This would enable them to meet the requirement for seeking a royal pardon.

Steps must be taken before reaching that stage but it was unlikely to be too long before they were freed because Hun Sen had expressed his intention to help, said the foreign minister.

Jatuporn: Veera, Ratree will be freed [-Hun Xen's gift to Puea Thai?]

26/09/2011
Bangkok Post

Imprisoned Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon are likely to be granted royal pardons soon and be set free by the Cambodian government, Pheu Thai party list MP Jatuporn Prompan said on Monday.

Mr Jatuporn, a core member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said that during his visit to Cambodia along with other MPs and red-shirt leaders for the weekend football match he heard that the Thai government had asked Cambodia to grant a royal pardon to Veera and Ratree.

The two are serving sentences in Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh after being found guilty of spying and illegal entry.

Yingluck and Foreign Policy

September 24, 2011
By Tim LaRocco
The Diplomat

When Yingluck Shinawatra was elected prime minister of Thailand in July, I argued this development was likely to ameliorate tensions that had developed over the years between Thailand and Cambodia. Between allegations of espionage levelled by Phnom Penh against the government of former Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and the recurrent violent military clashes over the ancient temple ruins of Preah Vihear, relations between the two countries seemed earlier this year to be at their lowest ebb in some time.

But Yingluck’s selection may have changed things. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was quick to announce that the election results in Thailand signalled a ‘new era of cooperation’ between the two countries. Relations between Phnom Penh and Yingluck’s brother Thaksin Shinawatra were quite warm, and remained so even after Thaksin’s overthrow, when he briefly served as an economic consultant for Hun Sen.

Yingluck’s visit to Phnom Penh this month reflects the potential of this new era. The two heads of state held what has been described by Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith as a ‘fruitful’ meeting, one in which both parties agreed to a host of bilateral discussions and negotiations on issues ranging from trade and investment, to the border dispute and the fate of two Thai nationals held in a Cambodian prison on allegations of spying.

Yingluck govt flirting with danger

September 23, 2011
The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet members may face possible legal problems for allowing former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to interfere with their work of running the country.

The Prime Minister's Office regulation on code of ethics for political office holders, issued in 2008 under the Samak Sundaravej government, states that political officials, including the prime minister and other Cabinet members, must not associate with or support any person who violates the law or gets involved in illegal activities such as running a gambling den or selling drugs.

[Thailand's] Slow move for lese majeste law, experts say

Sep 21, 2011
By Ansley Ng
Today Online (Singapore)

SINGAPORE - In recent years, there has been a spike in the number of people charged with lese majeste, or insulting the monarchy, in Thailand.

Many of the cases happened during the tenure of the Democrat-led administration, a government with ties to the military, which, in turn, has a close relationship with the monarchy.

Some activists and rights organisations, however, allege that the law was used to stifle political opposition and suppress freedom of speech. Now that the Democrats have been toppled by the Puea Thai party, led by fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sister Yingluck, will there be an easing of the law?

Experts say any change will happen slowly and Ms Yingluck's new government will not want to risk angering the monarch or the military. Independent scholar David Streckfuss, who recently wrote a paper on the topic, said it remained to be seen if the Yingluck administration will pursue lese majeste cases as vigilantly as her predecessor. Thailand's lese majeste law, also known as Article 112, attracts a jail term of up to 15 years.

Thailand’s Focus on stronger ties among ASEAN Countries

September 20, 2011
Zhong Li
Thailand Business News

Thailand has emphasized the importance of confidence building among ASEAN countries and its commitment to developing closer relationship with all ASEAN member states.

ASEAN Heads of Missions to Thailand recently paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who stressed Thailand’s commitment to the realization of the ASEAN Community in the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural fields.

Minister Surapong also underscored the importance of connectivity and closer people-to-people relations, saying that Thailand hoped to see greater prosperity and peace in the ASEAN region. He noted that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had received a warm welcome during her visit to Brunei Darussalam on September 10 and Indonesia on September 12, as part of her familiarization trip to ASEAN.

During her trip to Cambodia, Yingluck Shinawatra met Prime Minister Samdech Akkra Maha Senabodhi Techo Hun Sen and other senior Cambodian officials in the plenary session.

Thai Defence Minister asserts disputed 4.6 sq km adjoining Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Thailand [-So much for Hun Xen's hope for Puea Thai!]

BANGKOK, Sept 17 (MCOT online news) -- Thai Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa on Saturday said the disputed 4.6 sq km area adjoining the ancient Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Thailand, adding that Thailand had sovereignty over the area.

He said that Thai troop had worked in the area continously, and that the country had never withdrawn soldiers from the area.

Gen Yuthasak said the status of 4.6 sq km was in accordance with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra clarification made on her Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Ms Yingluck posted messages on the social network and microblogging service that the disputed 4.6 sq km near Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Thailand.

So far, so good

Yingluck's brief Cambodia trip underlines warmer relations, but settling offshore oil issues won't be easy.

19/09/2011

James O'Toole

Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH : As Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra returned to Thailand after what would be counted as a successful trip, analysts are warning that the newly elected premier to watchful of her actions as some could be viewed as being not transparent.

Ms Yingluck on Thursday held talks on a wide range of issues from the possible release of the two Thais imprisoned in Cambodia to the issue of petroleum exploration in a joint development area.

For all their squabbling in recent years, the two countries have much to gain by mending their relationship, and nowhere is this more clear than in the so-called Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand.

Cambodia and Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding in 2001 on joint development of the southern portion of the roughly 27,000-square-kilometre disputed area, with the northern portion to be divided by a defined maritime border. Bangkok cancelled this agreement in 2009, however, in protest over the appointment of Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government.