Spicy tale of real foes and real friends

19/09/2011
Saritdet Marukatat
Bangkok Post
COMMENTARY

Kaeng lieng - a spicy-mixed, vegetable soup - is like a bitter pill for Suthep Thaugsuban, especially the one cooked for him in Ta Kamao.

The allegations over "secret talks" - one of them with kaeng lieng on the negotiating table at Hun Sen's home in Kandal province - were unveiled by the Cambodian strongman last week. Mr Suthep, back then the deputy prime minister under the Democrat Party-led government, tried to convince the host to move ahead the plan to bring out oil and gas reserves from the overlapped maritime boundary in the Gulf of Thailand, according to Hun Sen. It was not just one but three alleged attempts by the Democrat veteran politician in different places in addition to his bastion not far from Phnom Penh.

Details unveiled by the Cambodian leader are convincing. He said Mr Suthep came to see him about an oil bloc in the gulf and wanted the Cambodian leader to take over as lead negotiator on the issue from his deputy.Mr Suthep admitted that he had meetings with Hun Sen but denied that they were "secret". Ex-foreign minister Kasit Piromya preferred calling them "informal" not "secret" as Hun Sen was trying to boast and obviously discredit the Democrats.

Pheu Thai petitions Senate to probe Suthep on secret talks with Cambodia

BANGKOK, Sept 15 (MCOT online news) - Pheu Thai party spokesman Prompong Nopparit on Thursday petitioned the Senate to investigate claims made by Cambodia regarding secret talks between former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban with his Cambodian counterpart Sok An.

Mr Prompong submitted the document, saying it is not a personal conflict, to Jitipoj Viriyaroj, chairman of the Senate Political Situation Monitoring Committee.

The Phnom Penh Post published a Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA) statement saying meetings between high ranking officials including Prime Minister Hun Sen, Deputy Minister Sok An, former Thai deputy prime minister Suthep and former defence minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan took place between June 2009 and July 2010, both inside and outside Cambodia, to deal with overlapping claims to the offshore area believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves.

Suthep insists 'secret talks' allegations a Hun Sen plot

15/09/2011
Bangkok Post

Allegations of "secret talks" about the overlapping maritime area levelled by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen are only an attempt to discredit the Democrat Party, says former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

Mr Suthep, now a Democrat list MP, was responding to Hun Sen's comments during a press interview that he and Mr Suthep held secret talks at his residence at Ta Khmau in Kandal province about the overlapping Gulf of Thailand maritime area, rich in oil and natural gas.

A Cambodian Thai website, called 15th Move, posted Hun Sen's comment which was on the website of the Cambodian Prime Minister's Office and published in Cambodia's Koh Santipheap daily.

"Suthep visited Cambodia three times. The first visit was in April to convince [me] to attend the Asean meeting in Pattaya ...

Suthep: [Yingluck] Govt rushing to help Thaksin

14/09/2011

Bangkok Post

The major reshuffle of state officials approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, particularly at the Corrections Department, seems to have been designed to facilitate the return of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Democrat Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday.

Mr Suthep, former deputy prime minister for security affairs in the Democrat-led government, said the replacement of Chartchai Suthiklom as director-general of the Corrections Department by Pol Col Suchart Wong-ananchai, an inspector-general at the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, seemed aimed at helping Thaksin return home without being put in jail.

Thaksin was sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for abuse of power while prime minister in the Ratchadapisek land case involving his then-wife Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra.

Suthep reaffirms no secret talks with Cambodia

Monday, 05 September 2011
MCOT

BANGKOK, Sept 3 - Former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Saturday denied Cambodia's claims over alleged secret talks on overlapping oil and gas-rich maritime territories during the tenure of Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, while challenging the Thai government to speed up investigation of the matter.

Mr Suthep made remarks following a statement by the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA) claiming that secret meetings between him and his Cambodian counterpart Sok An were held several times in various locations such as Cambodia’s Kandal province, China’s Kunming city in Yunnan, and Hong Kong, to deal with overlapping claims to the offshore area believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also assigned Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul to look into the case.

Suthep reaffirms no secret talks with Cambodia

Suthep Thaugsuban

BANGKOK, Sept 3 (MCOT online news) - Former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Saturday denied Cambodia's claims over alleged secret talks on overlapping oil and gas-rich maritime territories during the tenure of Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, while challenging the Thai government to speed up investigation of the matter.

Mr Suthep made remarks following a statement by the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA) claiming that secret meetings between him and his Cambodian counterpart Sok An were held several times in various locations such as Cambodia’s Kandal province, China’s Kunming city in Yunnan, and Hong Kong, to deal with overlapping claims to the offshore area believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also assigned Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul to look into the case.

Mr Suthep, former deputy premier who supervised national security, reasserted that it was Cambodian deputy prime minister Sok An who contacted him for unofficial meetings, before an official meeting on maritime demarcation would be officially held.

Suthep urged to clarify secret deal with Cambodia

Saturday, 03 September 2011
By NNT
Pattaya Mail

BANGKOK, 2 September 2011 – Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has asked former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to clarify the secret deal on Thai-Cambodian maritime zone following a recent announcement of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority.

Mr Surapong told the press that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has already tasked him with investigating the alleged secret deal of the past government. He hence encouraged Mr Suthep to clarify this issue with the public for the benefits of the nation.

The minister stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not know what the deputy prime minister has discussed with the Cambodian side on the Thai-Cambodian maritime zone, and he will hence send a letter to Cambodia to ask for clarification.

[Thai] FM: Dems must explain 'secret talks'

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul

2/09/2011
Bangkok Post

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has demanded that former Democrat prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban clarify the alleged secret talks about oil and gas interests in the overlapping marine area with Cambodia during their government's tenure.

Mr Surapong said on Friday he will investigate the case openly to ensure all sides are happy and that the investigation will not yield beneifits to the current administration.

"When Mr Suthep was assigned to negotiate with Cambodia, the Democrat-led government had not revoked the Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding [on an overlapping maritime border area]," the minister said.

[Thai] Govt vows to investigate 'secret' oil, gas talks [between Abhisit and Hun Xen's govt]

2/09/2011
Aekarach Sattaburuth & Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked the Foreign Ministry to investigate alleged secret talks about oil and gas interests in an overlapping marine area with Cambodia during the tenure of the Democrat-led government.

Ms Yingluck wants the ministry to look into talks involving Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in the last government, said government spokeswoman Thitima Chaisaeng.

On Tuesday, the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority said the Cambodian government would welcome a resumption of negotiations with Thailand on resolving claims to the 27,000 square kilometre stretch of seabed considered to be rich in oil and gas.

The authority, under the supervision of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, said Bangkok and Phnom Penh had held secret talks to try to reach a deal.

Cambodia Calls for Talks With Thailand on Disputed Offshore Gas

Aug. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Cambodia called for official talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to jointly develop areas of the Gulf of Thailand that may be rich in oil and gas after revealing it held secret meetings with her predecessor.

"Cambodia would welcome the resumption of open and official negotiation on this issue and will pursue such a course as soon as practicable," the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority said in a statement yesterday.

Talks on delineating 26,000 square kilometers in the Gulf of Thailand stalled as battles between the neighbors since 2008 over temples on their land border killed more than two dozen people. Ex-leader Abhisit Vejjajiva scrapped a 2001 deal that established a framework for the talks after Cambodia appointed Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother, as an adviser.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An held "secret meetings" with Suthep Thaugsuban, Abhisit's deputy, the past two years on the disputed maritime territory, according to the statement. Cambodia's petroleum agency said Abhisit has been "attempting to derail" negotiations with Yingluck's government, which took power earlier this month.

Suthep declined to comment when reached by phone today.

--With assistance from Supunnabul Suwannakij in Bangkok. Editor: Tony Jordan

Suthep denies secret deals over maritime zone

September 1, 2011
The Nation

Former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban admitted yesterday that he met Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An twice - in Hong Kong and Kunming - but did not make any secret deal over the maritime resources in the overlapping zone in the Gulf of Thailand.

The Thai government under Abhisit Vejjajiva then invited Sok An to talk on the matter in Thailand but the latter had no free time to visit Thailand and so informal meetings were held in Hong Kong, Suthep said.

"I told Sok An that - as both of us were appointed chief negotiators on the overlapping area in the sea - why didn't we open a formal meeting to follow what previous governments had done," Suthep told reporters.

"Returning home, I rushed to issue a letter of invitation to talk in Thailand - but the meeting has never taken place as the bilateral relations turned sour," he said.

Suthep decided to clarify his meetings with Sok An after the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority issued a statement on Tuesday accusing Abhisit's administration of attempting to make a secret deal on the maritime zone.

Suthep: Hard to talk with Cambodia [-Finger pointing accusations are still the favored tactics for both sides]

3/05/2011
Bangkok Post

Negotiations could ease the continuing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia but holding immediate talks with Cambodia is not easy, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Tuesday.

Speaking after a Thai soldier was killed, and three wounded, in a clash with Cambodian troops at the border overnight, Mr Suthep said it would be difficult to arrange ceasefire talks at this time.

The government must be cautious and monitor the border situation continuously, he said.

Dumb-cho Hun Xen admits: He sneaks and reads websites blocked by his dictatorial regime

27 April 2011
By Soy Sopheap
DAP-news
Translated from Khmer by Paul Ossdey

On 27 April 2011, in response to scorns from Thai leaders and a group of Khmer “Yellow Shirts”, Hun Xen said that all these people will die before he does.

Hun Xen’s comments came after Suthep Thaugsuban, the Thai deputy prime minister, commented on his health. Hun Xen’s health condition was published by a pro-opposition website. The report indicated that Hun Xen’s health condition was serious and he was hospitalized in Singapore whereas he was vacationing in Sihanouk province with the provincial governor.

Hun Xen said: “I will not die [KI-Media Note: Does he have eternal life?]. You will die before I do because you are older than me…[KI-Media Note: Sorry Old StrongMan, you are much older than any of us] My voice, I can speak loud [even] without using speakers, I can be heard in the entire room... They said I have lung cancer… With such a loud voice, can you say that I have lung disease?... This is what Ah [derogatory] Khmer Yellow Shirts cursed me, and then it was contagious to the Siamese Yellow Shirts in Bangkok that Hun Xen is sick. I am still alive and they say this much, and what would they say if I were to be really sick… But, Decho Xen does not die easily. The more the Yellow Shirts curse me, it is tantamount to the [Thai] government cursing me. You allow the Yellow Shirts to curse on me and wanting to cut my neck to take my blood to wash their feet, to take my head and stick it on a pole, but I never cursed Abhisit with cutting his neck, nor did I curse any Thai citizen.”

Hun Xen added that in the past, numerous former KR leaders, including Pol pot, they all cursed his life, but at the end they all died before Hun Xen.

-----------------

KI-Media Note: How else would Hun Xen know that his health condition was published by an alleged pro-opposition website, unless he is reading this website? Therefore, it means that Hun Xen sneaked and read the information about his health condition posted on several websites that are currently blocked by his dictatorial regime.

Concerted Thai effort to prevent border meetings in Indonesia: Thailand has something to hide?

Thai deputy PM opposes presence of foreign troops in disputed zone

March 24, 2011
Xinhua

Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that he disagreed with a plan to allow presence of foreign troops in the disputed zone on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Suthep made the remarks after Army Chief General Prayut Chan- ocha mentioned that he did not want Indonesia or any third country to be involved in the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission ( JBC) or General Border Committee (GBC) meetings.

Indonesia, the current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), earlier this week proposed to hold JBC and military-led GBC on April 7 and 8.

Suthep: Wrong move by PAD Thai

10/03/2011
Bangkok Post

The People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) opposition to any involvement of Indonesia in settling the Thai-Cambodian border dispute is wrong, Deputy Prime Minister overseeing security Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday.

Mr Suthep commented after PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said he will send a letter to the Indonesian embassy opposing any intervention by Indonesia in issues between Thailand and Cambodia.

"What Mr Panthep is doing is wrong because Indonesia is following Asean's resolution.

"We should work with all sides to bring about peace," Mr Suthep said.

He said Indonesia would act as an observer, not as a negotiator.

"Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, as the current Asean chair, understands the Thai-Cambodian situation and always has positive feelings toward Thailand," the deputy premier added.

Suthep asks "Somd-ach" Hun Sen to have sympathy for ailing Veera

Tuesday, March 08, 2011
The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban hoped Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen would offer sympathy to the jailed Thai nationalist activist Veera Somkwamkid, who is in poor health by giving him a royal pardon to free from Prey Sar prison.

"I believe that Somdach Hun Sen (Cambodian Prime Minister) would understand his condition and would seek ways to help," Suthep told reporters.

Veera and his aide Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were arrested since December 29 near Sa Kaeow province's Ban Nong Chan while inspecting border disputed area together with other five activists including Democrat Party's lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth.

Cambodia should follow UN Security Council statement

BANGKOK, Feb 18 (MCOT online news) -- The Cambodian government should follow the earlier response of the United Nations Security Council on ways of ending an ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.

Sidestepping journalists’ query that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s remarks that his country might take the disputed border case before the International Court of Justice for clarification on its 1962 ruling, Mr Suthep said it is better for the Cambodian leader to follow the UN Security Council’s ruling since Cambodia is the party who took the case to the world body.

The UN Security Council on Monday asked for a permanent ceasefire between the two countries and recommended that they negotiate an end to their dispute.

Deputy PM Suthep reasserts Thai-Cambodian border incidents are military clashes, not war

BANGKOK, Feb 10 (MCOT online news) -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reaffirmed that the recent Thai-Cambodian border incidents were military clashes, not real war as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly said, stressing that bilateral talks were still the best tool for finding a long term solution.

Mr Suthep said the Thai government did not consider the border incident as war but as a military clash along the border. He reasserted that the Thai military has monitored and would take good care of the Thai people.

The attempt to draw a third party into involvement in the disputes was a Cambodian diplomatic strategy, but the Thai government has reiterated that the country wants peace and does not want the conflict to be exaggerated, he said.

The two countries sharing a common border may have conflict, but their leaders should give their full attention to defuse the disputes, to bringing back normalcy, said the deputy premier.

The Chinese Xinhua news agency on Wednesday quoted Mr Hun Sen as saying while closing the annual conference of the Ministry of Commerce that the incident was real war, not a military clash.

Thailand Supports UNESCO's Inspection Of Preah Vihear Temple

BANGKOK, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Wednesday that he supports the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to inspect the Preah Vihear Temple along the Thai-Cambodian border, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

In response to the UNESCO's proposal to inspect the Preah Vihear Temple in the wake of a series of crossfire between Thai-and Cambodian border troops--which erupted last Friday, Suthep, who oversees national security, acknowledged that it is good for the UN organisation to find out the truth.

Asked if Thailand should be careful of Cambodia's movements in any forum after the United Nations has rejected Phnom Penh's request for it to be a mediator to settle border rows between Thailand and Cambodia, the Thai deputy premier said Thailand, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has already made it clear that Thai-Cambodian border clashes have not justified any intervention by a third party, namely the UN or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as both concerned countries should seek a way out by themselves and he considers the Thai-Cambodian border issues remain negotiable.

Thai FM to mend Thai-Cambodian ties: deputy PM

February 04, 2011

Xinhua

Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will be able to relieve the strained relationship between Thailand and Cambodia upon his visit to the neighboring country.

The deputy prime minister was referring to Kasit's travel to Cambodia to attend the 7th meeting of the Joint Commission (JC) on bilateral cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia to be held in Siem Reap province of Cambodia on Feb. 3-4, 2011.

The foreign minister will also arrange a talks with his counterpart Hor Namhong, during which a discussion on Thai- Cambodian conflicts is expected.