By Piyanart Srivalo,
Samatcha Hoonsara
The Nation
The Cabinet yesterday endorsed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's decision to scrap a 2001 memorandum of understanding with Cambodia signed by then-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, in which the countries stated their intention to jointly develop an overlapping area in the Gulf of Thailand.
The House and the Senate are expected to endorse the move which, according to recent polls, has boosted Abhisit's approval rating.
Article 190 of the Constitution requires House and Senate approval for any agreements and treaties made with foreign governments.
However, senators and MPs appear to have backed away from an earlier threat of closing the border, which would hurt Thailand more than Cambodia in monetary terms.
Speaking to reporters prior to his departure for Phuket, Abhisit criticised Cambodia for exaggerating the effect of the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) by trying to link it to other bilateral agreements that could detrimentally affect the sovereignty of the two countries.
The move applies to the 2001 MoU on overlapping claims and nothing else, he said. He argued that it had resulted in a conflict of interest because Thaksin - the architect of the MoU - was now economic adviser to the Cambodian government.
The move to scrap the MoU is largely seen as retaliation by the Abhisit administration against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's decision to appoint fugitive Thaksin as his economic adviser.
Thailand sees the move as a grave insult and interference in the country's internal affairs.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the decision to push for the scrapping of the MoU was in the interest of the country and maintained "There was nothing personal or emotional about the move."
A Thai court last year handed Thaksin a two-year jail sentence on corruption charges.
The MoU covers a 27,000-square-kilometre oil- and gas-rich zone that is claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand. Although it was signed shortly after Thaksin came into power, the two countries have not been able to make much progress because they could not agree on a comprehensive deal.
Thailand exported US$1 billion (Bt33.3 billion) worth of goods to Cambodia in the first eight months of this year, while Cambodian exports to Thailand totalled $39 million.
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Cabinet endorses scrapping of MoU with Cambodia
Fugitive Ex-Thai Premier Thaksin Arrives in Cambodia as Adviser
By Bill Austin and Daniel Ten Kate
Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, is visiting Phnom Penh in his capacity as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s economic adviser. That appointment, made last week, prompted Thailand to downgrade diplomatic relations and review business deals with its Southeast Asian neighbor.
To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Ten Kate in Bangkok at dtenkate@bloomberg.net .
New crocodile hopes in Cambodia
By Guy deLauney
BBC News, Phnom Penh
Conservationists say there is fresh hope for one of the world's rarest reptiles.
DNA tests have found 35 pure-bred Siamese crocodiles at a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia.
There are fewer then 250 of the species left in the wild, but the crocodiles at the sanctuary could now form the basis of a captive-breeding programme.
Siamese crocodiles may be smaller than some other species, but they're easily capable of breaking human limbs.
So for the conservationists at the Phnom Tamao wildlife rescue centre, taking DNA samples was a hazardous task.
In February this year, they wrangled and wrestled 69 of the beasts so they could gather genetic information.
And now it turns out all the hard work was worth it.
Thirty-five crocodiles have been confirmed as pure-bred Siamese - including six adults which may be suitable for starting off a captive breeding programme.
And more than two dozen younger crocs may be released into the wild when they are old enough.
The discovery continues a remarkable comeback for the species.
Siamese crocodiles were declared extinct in the 1990s - before a small population was discovered in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains.
But the conservation organisation Fauna and Flora International has warned that any celebrations would be premature.
Siamese crocodiles mature slowly.
So it will take 15 years before the breeding programme comes to fruition.
And in the meantime, everything from poaching to hydroelectric projects pose a threat to crocodiles and their habitats.
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Toppled Thai leader arrives in Cambodia
By SOPHENG CHEANG, Associated Press Writer
PHNOM PENH,
The toppled leader was to deliver a lecture Thursday to more than 300 economists while in Phnom Penh.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Thaksin flew into the Cambodian capital's military airport aboard a private plane. State televison showed that Thaksin arrived with a party of less than 10 people and was driven into Phnom Penh under very tight security provided by bodyguards of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Thaksin's surprising appointment by Hun Sen has soured already poor relations between the two neighbors, which have had small but sometimes deadly skirmishes over their land border in the past year.
Thailand responded to the appointment by withdrawing its ambassador from Phnom Penh, and Cambodia retaliated in kind.
Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup. He is living in exile, mostly in Dubai, to avoid a two-year prison sentence for corruption.
Despite his self-imposed exile he remains at the center of a political fight between his supporters and those of the current government. He ignited fresh controversy Monday by speaking candidly about the nation's constitutional monarchy.
Thaksin gave a rare extensive interview that was published by the Times of London on its Web site in which he spoke glowingly of the prospects for Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn once he succeeds his father, 81-year old King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But he criticized the king's close advisers for interfering with politics.
Open discussion of the succession issue is a delicate issue, in part because of strict laws that prohibit insulting the king and his family and make such criticism punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Thaksin went into exile last year ahead of a court judgment that found him guilty of violating a conflict of interest law and sentenced him to two years in jail. He served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, when he was ousted by a military coup after being accused of corruption and showing disrespect to the monarchy.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who was an anti-Thaksin activist before joining the government, said to reporters that Thaksin's interview remarks were offensive to the monarchy, and questioned his motive for making them.
Other officials in the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also criticized Thaksin.
Thaksin's supporters and opponents have repeatedly taken to the streets since his ouster to spar over who has the right to rule the country, sometimes sparking violence.
On a Web page he maintains, Thaksin later said that The Times had distorted his comments, especially in its headline reading, "
In the Times interview, which included a transcript posted online, the former prime minister was laudatory about Vajiralongkorn, whom he described as "the newer generation, modern."
"He has a very strong determination to do what he really wants to achieve," said Thaksin.
He also offered repeated, almost fulsome praise of Bhumibol, but said the circle of people around him, particularly his main adviser, former Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda, had illegitimately interfered in politics.
Many people believe Prem engineered the coup against Thaksin, a charge Prem has denied.
The king has been in hospital for almost two months with a lung ailment.
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Monday, November 09, 2009
Cambodia's conflict with Thailand triggers anxiety in ASEAN: secretary general
JAKARTA, The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said on Monday that conflict between two of its members, Thailand and Cambodia, has triggered anxiety in the organization. "This is not just a border dispute anymore because it has caused anxiety in ASEAN and could affect the image and profile of the body," the Secretary-General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan told ambassadors for the organization in a briefing here.
He also has appealed to the two countries to take a maximum restraint and asked ASEAN foreign ministers to assist the two countries in ending the dispute.
Surin told the press that currently, the organization has just to wait for the development there.
"Right now, what we can do is just waiting," said Surin.
Surin said that he was hoping that the two countries could settle their problem amicably.
"Please take all instrument we have here, discussion and other possible assistance," he said.
According to Surin, all instruments should be used to maintain and perfect the organization's integrity. (PNA/Xinhua)
FFC/ebp
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Thais ready Thaksin extradition papers for Cambodia
BANGKOK - Thailand has prepared extradition papers for Thaksin Shinawatra ahead of the fugitive former premier's diplomatically tense visit to neighbouring Cambodia this week, a government prosecutor said Monday.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 and now lives abroad to avoid a jail term for graft, sparked a furious row between Bangkok and Phnom Penh last week by accepting a position as economic adviser to Cambodia's government.
The billionaire telecommunications tycoon is due to make a speech to Cambodian economics experts at the country's finance ministry on Thursday, sparking calls from Thailand for Cambodia to extradite him.
"We have extradition papers ready but our documents must be approved by the attorney general after we receive a request by the foreign ministry or police," Sirasak Tiypan of the Thai attorney general's office told AFP.
"The papers are the same we have sent to Fiji, Nicaragua and the United Arab Emirates."
Thaksin was sentenced to two years jail in absentia in 2008 for abuse of power, a judgment that both he and his close friend, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, have described as politically motivated.
The Thai government said last week that it would seek Thaksin's extradition as soon as he set foot in Cambodia. But Cambodia has said it will reject any request to extradite Thaksin.
Thailand says a refusal would violate international agreements and lead to further diplomatic measures.
The feud over Thaksin had already prompted Thailand and Cambodia to recall their ambassadors from each other's capitals last Thursday. The Thai government also threatened to close their shared border.
The two countries have fought a series of deadly skirmishes over disputed land around a Cambodian 11th century temple on the frontier since it was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.
The timing of the row could cause embarrassment for Thailand as it prepares to chair a meeting in Singapore between US President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders on Sunday.
Twice-elected Thaksin remains a huge threat to Thailand's government, coordinating mass protests from afar since it took power in December 2008.
Meanwhile, in an interview with British daily The Times published on Monday, Thaksin urged the reform of institutions around Thailand's revered monarchy.
He said that 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, was above politics but that "circles" around the palace were interfering with the running of the country.
"That's the problem in Thailand. The monarchy is not the problem. The monarchy is good for Thailand. Thailand needs to have a monarchy but it should not be abused or played by the palace circles," he was quoted as saying.
Asked if the "royal institution" needed reform, he said: "Yes, yes."
"I can assure you His Majesty is above (politics), but those in the circle have a network," he said.
"They want to get rid of me because they say I am trying to turn Thailand into a republic and topple the monarchy. That's not true. I have a very high respect for the monarchy and royal family."
Thaksin's supporters have targeted the house of the king's main adviser, former general Prem Tinsulanonda, during several protests this year and accused Prem of orchestrating the coup.
Thaksin's comments remain sensitive in a country where insulting or defaming the royal family is punishable by up to 15 years in jail.
Three people were arrested recently for spreading rumours about the health of the king, who has been in hospital for nearly two months with a lung infection and fever.
- AFP/ir
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Group Seeks to Keep Cambodian Arts Alive
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
[Editor’s note: Organizations like Cambodian Living Arts work to restore and improve Cambodia’s artistic heritage. Cambodian Living Arts was established 10 years ago by Arn Chorn Pond, a Cambodian-American who was nominated for an Emmy for “The Flute Player.” He founded the organization when he first returned to Cambodia to support arts masters who had helped him survive the horrors of the Khmer Rouge.The group’s executive director, Prim Phloeun, recently took a trip to the US, including Washington, where he spoke to VOA Khmer on the challenges facing his group and the support it gets from donors.]
Q. What projects does your group work on?
A. Cambodia Living Arts is working on some projects to promote Cambodian culture. We are especially trying to maintain Cambodian classical music, classical dance and Cambodian plays that have been getting lost. We are now also working with popular dance. We are trying hard to preserve and ensure that our tradition and culture don’t fade.
Q. Has your trip to the US born been fruitful?
A. CLA’s projects have been established over the past 10 years with mostly US-supported funding. Since I’ve been here, I’ve met some donors who are willing to continue to promote Cambodian culture. I’ve met about 10 rich donors here who still want to provide funding for our group to be able to continue to move our projects forward.
Q. How has your organization helped Cambodia in terms of art and culture?
A. As you know, CLA is helping 15 art masters, such as Eang Sithol, Kong Nay, Tep Mary and some other senior professors who are skilled in classical music, classical dance and Cambodian plays. We have 15 projects for CLA in six provinces in Cambodia. We have 300 young students who want to learn more about our Cambodian culture.
Q. How much do those students understand now?
A. Most of them are becoming skillful. So far, they’ve gone to perform Cambodian dance and culture in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a month. Cambodia was one of the top five most attracted performances among 100 countries around the world.
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Sunday, November 08, 2009
Kingdom of Cambodia National Day
The Kingdom of Cambodia celebrates its National Day Nov. 9, Monday. On this day in 1953, King Norodom Sihanouk declared the country’s independence from French colonial rule.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Cambodia were formally established in 1957.
Although our relations were affected by the Khmer rouge regime in 1975, the Philippines and Cambodia have maintained cordial ties since the resumption of diplomatic relations in 1995 and the reopening of the Cambodian Embassy in Manila in 1999. The two countries have concluded agreements on economic and trade relations, agricultural and agribusiness collaboration, and tourism cooperation.
Cambodia is a member of the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2004 and attended the inaugural East Asia Summit in 2005.
Cambodia has established diplomatic relations with numerous countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, and Russia. As a result of its international relations, various charitable organizations have assisted with both social and civil infrastructure needs.
We congratulate the people and government of the Kingdom of Cambodia headed by His Majesty, King Norodom Sihamoni, and H.E., Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, and its Embassy in the Philippines led by Ambassador In May, on the occasion of their National Day.
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Cambodia announces Thaksin visit
By Kounila Keo Kounila Keo
PHNOM PENH (AFP) – Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Phnom Penh this week in his new role as economics adviser, the Cambodian PM said Sunday, further stoking a row with Thailand.
"Thaksin will be at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on November 12 to do a briefing with more than 300 Cambodian economics experts," Hun Sen told a news conference at Phnom Penh International Airport.
The visit is set to increase tensions with neighbouring Thailand, which have escalated since Wednesday when Cambodia announced the appointment of Thaksin -- ousted as Thai prime minister in a 2006 coup -- as economics adviser.
Both countries Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors and Thailand warned Friday that it could seal the border.
"If you want to close, close it. The loss will be mutual," said Hun Sen Sunday, pointing out that Thailand had more to lose in terms of border trade profit.
"If Thais want to close the border, Cambodia will follow. If Thais close the border, all trade between Cambodia and Thailand will be cut off," Hun Sen told reporters.
Thaksin is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but Cambodia said last week the charges against him were "politically motivated" and vowed not to extradite him if he travelled to the country.
"Please let Thaksin share my burden of boosting the economy of Cambodia," Hun Sen appealed to the Thai people Sunday.
Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said billionaire Thaksin faced a "conflict of interest", having previously been chief of negotiations in Thailand and now working "for another side".
Twice-elected Thaksin remains a deeply divisive figure in Thailand, where his supporters have stirred up a series of protests in recent months against the government.
His own allies were forced from government in December 2008 after anti-Thaksin demonstrators held a crippling blockade of Bangkok's airports.
Abhisit used his weekly television programme to defend Thailand's handling of the spat with Cambodia, saying it had acted "calmly and carefully".
The two countries have fought a series of deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in a dispute over land around an ancient Cambodian temple that was granted UN World Heritage Status.
"There is no reason to make tensions at the border which might lead to clashes," Abhisit added.
Hun Sen also used his press conference on Sunday to downplay tensions at the border, announce the withdrawal of elite paratroopers from disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple because the situation there was "quiet".
Commander Chab Pheakdey, head of the unit, refused to divulge the number of soldiers that would be withdrawn from the area.
The head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, General Surin Pitsuwan, urged Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday to show "maximum restraint" in their ongoing spat.
He said the 10-country bloc should not be seen to be divided by the dispute ahead of a historic meeting with US President Barack Obama and regional leaders later this month. But Abhisit denied the issue would affect the summit.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama also told Hun Sen at a bilateral meeting in Tokyo Saturday that he was "concerned" about the row, a Japanese official said.
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Thaksin to visit Cambodia this week: PM
PHNOM PENH - Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Cambodia this week in his new role as the government's economics adviser, the Cambodian Prime Minister told reporters Sunday.
"Thaksin will be at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on November 12, to do a briefing with more than 300 Cambodian economics experts," Hun Sen told a news conference at Phnom Penh International Airport.
The visit is likely to increase tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which have escalated since Wednesday when Cambodia announced the appointment of Thaksin, who was ousted as Thai prime minister in a 2006 coup.
Both countries Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors and Thailand warned Friday that it could seal the border.
"If you want to close, close it. The loss will be mutual," said Hun Sen Sunday, pointing out that Thailand had more to lose in terms of border trade profit.
"If Thais want to close the border, Cambodia will follow. If Thais close the border, all trade between Cambodia and Thailand will be cut off," Hun Sen told reporters.
Thaksin is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but Cambodia said last week the charges against him were "politically motivated" and vowed not to extradite him if he travelled to the country.
"Please let Thaksin share my burden of boosting the economy of Cambodia," Hun Sen appealed to the Thai people Sunday.
But the premier also used the press conference to downplay tensions at the border, announce the withdrawal of elite paratroopers from disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple.
The two countries have fought a series of deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in the dispute over land around the ancient Cambodian temple that was granted UN World Heritage Status.
"After examining the situation at the border between Cambodia and Thailand, the situation was quiet," Hun Sen said.
"So I announce the withdrawal of special paratroop number 911 from the area at Preah Vihear temple, and their return to the headquarters. The implementation will be finished within a week."
Commander Chab Pheakdey, head of the unit, refused to divulge the number of soldiers that would be withdrawn from the area.
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Cambodia to withdraw part of its troops from border areas with Thailand: PM
PHNOM PENH, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday afternoon announced that Cambodia has planed to withdraw part of its troops from the border areas with Thailand.
Hun Sen made the announcement at a press conference held at the Phnom Penh International Airport where he arrived from the first Mekong-Japan Summit from Nov. 6 to 7, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.
"What I should start with today is that after examining the border issue between Cambodia and Thailand, the situation is normal, quiet, then we decide to withdraw small unit 911 from Preah Vihear to the camp, and one week from now, complete withdrawal," Hun Sen said, adding that "The dispute is not between the two nationalities of Cambodian and Thai, or the two peoples, nor military and ministry between the two countries, but Abhisit and Hun Sen or Bangkok and Phnom Penh."
Relations between the two neighboring countries were strained in the past week when Cambodia named ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra its economic adviser. Thailand recalled its ambassador Thursday, and Cambodia followed suit.
Hun Sen also told reporters that Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Cambodia to give a lecture on Thursday. He said that "Thaksin will make a lecture on economic topics in Phnom Penh on Nov. 12 in the morning to 300 people. I cannot tell you when and from where he will come through, but he will make a lecture here." (PNA/Xinhua)
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Thailand protecting 'dignity’ in Cambodia spat: PM
AFP, Bangkok
Thailand's prime minister Sunday defended his actions in an ongoing spat with Cambodia over Phnom Penh's job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier, saying he had to protect the country's dignity.
"All the government has done is for dignity of the country and Thai people," said premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, adding that Thailand had acted "calmly and carefully" to deal with the recent escalation of tensions. Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors after Cambodia appointed Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thailand's prime minister in a coup in 2006, as an economic adviser.
Abhisit said billionaire Thaksin faced a "conflict of interest", having previously been chief of negotiations in Thailand and now working "for another side".
Thaksin is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but Cambodia said the charges against him were "politically motivated" and vowed not to extradite him if he travelled to the country. "Criticising our justice system is unacceptable," said Abhisit, although he said he thought Cambodia was "misinformed".
"Everyone has to protect our justice system's dignity," he added during his weekly television programme.
The two countries have fought a series of deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in a dispute over land around an ancient Cambodian temple that was granted UN World Heritage Status.
"There is no reason to make tensions at the border which might lead to clashes," Abhisit added.
Thailand had warned Friday that it could seal the border between the two countries and further stoked the row by saying it would tear up an oil and gas exploration deal with Cambodia.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at a bilateral meeting in Tokyo Saturday that he was "concerned" about the spat, a Japanese official said.
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Saturday, November 07, 2009
Ex-PM 'might move to Cambodia'
By WICHIT CHAITRONG
THE NATION ON SUNDAY
Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is likely to use Cambodia as the new base for his political operations due to its proximity to Thailand, political scientist Chaianan Samudvanija said yesterday.
He said Cambodia would be more favourable for Thaksin as his current base - Dubai in the United Arab Emirates - is "too far away" from Thailand.
However, Chaianan, a former Constitution Court judge, said he thought Thaksin's decision to move his base to Cambodia "would not be a wise one". He explained that Thais generally are not familiar with having their politicians relying on assistance from other countries.
He was speaking at a seminar organised by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) in Pattaya.
Chaianan said that with Thaksin moving to Cambodia, political activities would become "more intense" as politicians close to him would find it easier to meet him in the neighbouring country.
He also had no worries about the increasing rivalry between the red shirts and the yellow shirts, saying the confrontation was part of political development to a higher level of democracy. He said Thais have become more politically active and their participation in political activities has become uninterrupted, unlike that during the brief periods around the student-led uprising of October 1973.
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Put country above self, Abhisit tells Thaksin
By The Nation on Sunday
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday hit back at ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, calling on him to review his stance over becoming an economic adviser to Cambodia.
The premier said Thaksin should put the country's interests ahead of his own and not hurt its relations with neighbouring countries.
Responding to Thaksin's statement accusing the government of using internal politics to pressure Cambodia, Abhisit said the government did not start the problem. He said it started when Cambodia announced its decision to appoint Thaksin an adviser, which adversely affects Thailand's justice system.
"I have met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen many times and we had good understanding, till Pheu Thai Party chairman General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh went to Cambodia and Thaksin was appointed as economic adviser to Cambdodia. The problem then started. Thaksin is a Thai, he should be sensitive and not blame the government,'' he said.
Abhisit said the government's downgrading of the country's relations with Cambodia was not too severe and would not lead to military clashes or affect bilateral trade.
He said Thaksin must review his stance in accepting to become an economic adviser to Cambodia because he knew all information as he had headed the government when Thailand signed the Memorandum of Understanding over the maritime overlapping zone.
"Which government will let the country lose its leverage and allow its justice system to be questioned? If we had not done that, how could have we have protected the country's interests?'' he said.
He said Thaksin's decision to side with Cambodia raised more suspicions against him over allegations that he had a vested interest over the signing of the MoU with Cambodia to seek interests in the overlapping zone.
"This make people wonder why Thaksin seems to be concerned about the interest of other countries more than his own country. They wonder whether he has a self-interest in that,'' Abhisit said.
The premier denied that the government was provoking nationalist sentiment, saying Thaksin was the one who had a problem not having nationalism.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday said the party was concerned about recent opinion poll results, which showed that a majority of respondents supported the government's retaliation against Cambodia. He said both the Dusit Poll and Abac Poll were not impartial and the party would conduct a survey to find out the public response to the move.
He said Thaksin would on Tuesday clarify his stance about accepting the advisory position and the MoU agreement with Cambodia.
Pheu Thai MP Surapong Towichakkul challenged that if the Democrat Party believed the poll results that its popularity had surged it should dissolve Parliament and call a general election.
Also yesterday Borwornsak Uwanno, secretary-general of the King Prajadhipok's Institute, said the government had reacted correctly by recalling Thailand's ambassador to Cambodia. He warned, however, that the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia could lead to the dissolution of Asean.
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INTERVIEW - Thai PM says no plan yet to seal border with Cambodia
By Yoko Nishikawa
TOKYO (Reuters) - Thailand said on Saturday it has no plan yet to seal its border with Cambodia despite a diplomatic row, but will seek to extradite fugitive former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, if he goes to Cambodia to become an adviser.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also told Reuters in an interview that Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been recovering from his illness and he expected the 81-year-old king to be discharged from hospital soon.
Thailand and Cambodia deepened a diplomatic row by recalling their ambassadors from each others' countries on Thursday after Phnom Penh made Thaksin an economic adviser.
The tit-for-tat spat threatens to worsen political tensions in Thailand by potentially giving Thaksin a base across the border from where he can direct his supporters and causing a diplomatic embarrassment for Abhisit.
"We did not talk," Abhisit said when asked if he had a chance to speak with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen while he was in Tokyo for a summit of five Mekong region nations and Japan, which brought him and the Cambodian leader together at an awkward time.
"We would seek (his) extradition," Abhisit added when asked about his government's response if Thaksin goes to Cambodia.
"We do not accept the view that this is a political case. Rather, it is a straight-forward application of our laws."
But asked if Bangkok would seal its border with Cambodia, Abhisit said, "At the moment, we don't have plans to do that."
Thaksin, the twice-elected billionaire who was deposed in a coup three years ago and has been living in exile to avoid corruption charges, still commands widespread support in rural areas and remains a force in Thai politics.
Abhisit stressed the dispute did not affect the two-day Japan-Mekong summit meeting that ended earlier in the day.
"We are very conscious that this is an issue that we should solve bilaterally and that we should not let this get in the way of multilateral cooperation. So we won't allow to affect ASEAN. We won't allow to affect a forum like this," he said.
KING'S HEALTH
Abhisit said Thailand's king, who has been in hospital since Sept. 19, was recovering and that he was performing his duties from the hospital.
The 81-year-old king, the world's longest serving monarch, is regarded as semi-divine by many of the country's 67 million people.
"He has recovered and is now staying to do physiotherapy. And soon we expect His Majesty to be discharged from the hospital," Abhisit said, adding that the timing of the king's release from hospital would be up to doctors.
The king's health is a sensitive topic in financial markets because he is seen as the sole unifying figure in a politically polarised country with a long history of coups and upheaval.
Abhisit said the king was still performing his duties in hospital. "We have laws that have been signed and have come to affect, for instance, the budget law."
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POLITICS: Thai-Cambodia Diplomatic Row Bares Decades-Long Rift
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK, Thailand’s swift and strong response to Cambodia’s decision to appoint ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser exposed an emotional faultline rooted in decades of mutual suspicion and hatred.
By the weekend, Bangkok had delivered its second blow to an already tense relationship between the two South-east Asian kingdoms. The Thai government announced it was revoking a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on developing an overlapping maritime area rich in oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand.
It was inevitable, said the Thai government, after Phnom Penh’s appointment of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and lives in exile to evade a two-year jail term after being found guilty in a conflict of interest case. Thaksin’s new role in Cambodia "will directly affect negotiations" between the two countries, states the Thai foreign ministry, since Thaksin "was directly involved in the negotiation process" in 2001 when he was Thailand’s prime minister.
The tone for such a tough response by the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was set on Thursday. Bangkok withdrew its ambassador in Cambodia in protest against the Thaksin appointment. Phnom Penh reciprocated by Friday.
"We view the appointment of Thaksin as an interference in Thailand’s domestic affairs and disregard for Thailand’s judicial system," Thani Thongphakdi, Thai foreign ministry’s deputy spokesman, told IPS. "Our reaction has been commensurate with the action of Cambodia."
Thaksin’s appointment as the new economic advisor to Cambodia was announced Wednesday night on the country’s state television station. He was appointed by a royal decree as a "personal advisor to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the adviser to the Cambodian government in charge of economy," a statement from Phnom Penh revealed.
Hun Sen’s choice of the fugitive former Thai premier, who became a billionaire telecommunications tycoon before he was elected as Thailand’s leader in 2001, is in keeping with a practice known in Cambodia for years— of the government and the royal family appointing foreign nationals to help them as advisors.
Prior to Thaksin, Hun Sen’s economic advisor was South Korea’s current president, Lee Myung-bak. The latter served in that advisory role from 2000 till 2007, resigning ahead of the 2008 presidential poll.
"Cambodia views the appointment of Mr. Thaksin as an internal affair. We have had economic advisors to our prime minister before, like the current president of South Korea from 2000 till 2007," said Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian foreign ministry. "The Thai government is trying to mix things up."
"It is up to the Thai side to clarify the status of our relationship," Koy added during a telephone interview from Phnom Penh. "Cambodia wants to have good relations with Thailand."
Hun Sen’s fiery rhetoric towards Thailand betrays such sentiments. He is on record saying that Phnom Penh would not extradite Thaksin if he moved to Cambodia. That followed a statement that Cambodia would offer Thaksin a new home.
The recent war of words between Cambodia and Thailand threatened to overshadow a summit of South-east Asian leaders held last month in a Thai resort town south of Bangkok. "Don’t allow anybody to use you as a pawn," Abhisit told the media in a comment targeted at Hun Sen.
The current tension between the two countries has grown since July last year over a 10th century Hindu temple, Preah Vihear, perched on top of a steep cliff on the Thai-Cambodian border.
The World Heritage Committee ruled that month that the Preah Vihear would be recognised as a world heritage site. It also recognised a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice that the temple was within Cambodian territory.
Thai nationalists responded with rage, prompting a troop build-up by both sides. In April this year the soldiers from both countries exchanged gunfire, leaving three people dead.
The relationship between the richer Thailand and the poorer Cambodia hit a low point in 2003, when the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by rioters angered by a remark made by a Thai actress that allegedly questioned Cambodia’s ownership of another landmark temple. Thaksin was the Thai premier at the time.
"What we are witnessing is the love-hate relationship between the Thai and Cambodians. The problem has deep roots, going back to the Second World War period," said Charnvit Kasetsri, a historian at Bangkok’s Thammasat University. "Anti-French feelings that Thais had towards the French when they were colonial rulers of Cambodia were transferred to anti-Cambodian feelings after Cambodia got independence."
Thailand’s elites also fed this feeling in later years, Charnvit explained in an interview. "Bangkok’s educated people look down upon Cambodians as less educated and people that cannot be trusted and are unreliable."
The United States government’s war in Indo-China saw the two countries on either side of the battle lines. The Thai government, under a military dictatorship and a strong U.S. ally, was peeved at Cambodia’s neutral stance over the war during the 1960s.
Through the 1980s, after Cambodians were freed from the genocidal Khmer Rouge by the invading Vietnamese military, Thailand opened its eastern borders for the Khmer Rouge to survive. Bangkok, in fact, was the gateway for Khmer Rouge leaders to interact with the international community. Cambodia’s present attitude towards Thailand, on the other hand, reflects a trend that has evolved over the past 20 years.
"For years Thailand was an important investor in Cambodia and was always welcome, but now its predominant role has been replaced by China, Japan and others," said Punagthong Pawakapan, assistant professor in international relations at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. "They do not have to depend on Thailand unlike before."
China, with over 3,000 companies and with investments valued at over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, is the largest investor in Cambodia. South Korea follows, with 1.2 billion dollars in investment. And Japan, with over 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, has been Cambodia’s top donor since 1992.
Thailand’s investments are valued at 226 million U.S. dollars. Its major investments are in hotels and the agro-industry. China has poured money into large infrastructure projects while South Korea has invested in the information technology sector.
"Thailand’s relationship with its other neighbours like Burma, Laos and Malaysia do not compare with the relationship with Cambodia," Punagthong told IPS. "Disagreements do not result in the same kind of tension and trouble."
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Friday, November 06, 2009
PM Abhisit arrives in Tokyo for 1st Mekong-Japan Summit
BANGKOK, Nov 6 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived in Tokyo Friday morning to attend the first Mekong-Japan Summit in the Japanese capital and to hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Mr Abhisit declined to comment on his possible first encounter with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the summit, saying that there was no schedule to meet the Cambodia leader and the gathering was focusing in the regional issue.
The Thai prime minister and leaders of Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, were scheduled to attend the luncheon hosted by the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) and it could be the first time that Mr Abhisit and Hun Sen meet after tensions were heightened following Cambodia’s appointment of convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as personal advisor to Cambodian Premier Hun Sen and advisor on economy to his government.
Thailand protested the move by withdrawing its ambassador from Phnom Penh, saying it considered the Mr Thaksin’s appointment as interference in its internal affairs, while Cambodia later recalled its own ambassador in a reciprocal action.
After the luncheon, the leaders the Mekong sub-region countries were to have an audience with Crown Prince Naruhito and then meet the Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives, Takahiro Yokomichi, and Japan's upper house President Satsuki Eda respectively.
The Thai prime minister was scheduled to participate in the Mekong-Japan Summit at 5.30pm local time or 7.30pm Thai time.
Mr Abhisit said earlier that Thailand will focus on three important issues—infrastructure connectivity to boost economic development in the East-West and Southern economic corridors and pave the way for ASEAN economic integration, resolution of environmental problems (Japan has played a major role in resolving climate change), and human resources development.
The Thai premier said that the summit is expected to issue an investment plan for infrastructure and environmental rehabilitation, as well as human resources development.
In addition, Mr Abhisit said a declaration on joint political will was scheduled to be signed.
The Thai premier said that after the summit ends, he will meet bilaterally with the Japanese premier and with Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.
He said the meeting will focus on economic cooperation, especially applying the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) and Creative Economics for Economic Value Added.
The Thai premier said Thailand has met with Japanese investors both in Thailand and abroad about implementing the economic partnership agreement and will resolve the continuing problem at Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in accord with the law, worrying investors after Thailand's Central Administrative Court ordered 76 industrial projects there to temporarily halt operations amid continued concern by local residents and NGOs about critical environmental and health impacts.
Japan earlier reaffirmed its continued commitment to help narrow the development gaps in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through various sub-regional development activities.
Japan initiated the Mekong-Japan Cooperation framework while designating the year 2009 as the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year.
The 1st Mekong-Japan Summit in Tokyo is expected to strengthen cooperative relations between Japan and the Mekong countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. (TNA)
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Japan’s Hatoyama Pledges $5.5 Billion in Aid to Mekong Nations
By Sachiko Sakamaki
Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Japan pledged at least 500 billion yen ($5.5 billion) in aid to five Southeast Asian nations that share the Mekong river over the next three years to spur economic development and fight climate change.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said developing the Mekong region will accelerate economic integration among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Mekong region is “key” to promoting Hatoyama’s idea of an “East Asian Community” modeled on the European Union and that would eventually have a regional currency, according to a Japanese government official who briefed reporters.
The leaders of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar welcomed Japan’s pledge at the first Japan-Mekong summit in Tokyo, the official said.
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Attendees included Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, whose countries have recalled their respective ambassadors after Cambodia named fugitive ex-Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra an economic adviser.
Also present were Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
Japan is now giving roughly 160-170 billion yen a year to the five countries, the official said.
President Barack Obama, on his first trip to Asia, is scheduled to co-chair with Abhisit a Nov. 15 summit of Southeast Asian leaders that will include Hun Sen.
To contact the reporters on this story: Sachiko Sakamaki in Tokyo at Ssakamaki1@bloomberg.net;
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Thailand to pull out of maritime talks with Cambodia in protest
Nov 06, 2009 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- Bangkok, Nov. 6 Kyodo - A dispute between Thailand and Cambodia escalated Friday with Bangkok's threat to end talks with Cambodia on their disputed maritime border in the wake of Phnom Penh's recent appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.
Meanwhile, fellow ASEAN member Singapore issued a statement Friday saying it is "concerned about the deteriorating relationship between Thailand and Cambodia." "It is not good for ASEAN. We hope that both our friends will keep the larger interest of ASEAN in mind and find a way to resolve their differences quickly in a spirit of good neighbourliness," it said.
Thailand's threat to pull out of maritime talks with Cambodia comes a day after it recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh to protest against Thaksin, a fugitive from justice, being made Cambodia's economic adviser, calling it an insult to the Thai judicial system.
Cambodia recalled its ambassador from Bangkok in return.
On Friday, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said his ministry will seek abrogation of a memorandum of understanding on maritime boundary negotiations that the two countries signed in 2001 while Thaksin was still Thai premier.
He said Thailand's negotiating stance is known to Thaksin, so his new advisory position could leave Thailand at a disadvantage in the maritime talks with Cambodia, which have not made progress in the last eight years.
Thailand will instead explore other ways under international law of resolving the two countries' overlapping claims over about 26,000 square kilometres of the Gulf of Thailand, he said.
Kasit was speaking by telephone from Tokyo, where he is attending the Japan-Mekong summit meeting that is being participated in by both Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Friday that if Cambodia continues to act badly towards Thailand, "then we must continue to downgrade relations and maybe seal off all border checkpoints." Koy Kuong, spokesman of Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, told Kyodo News that the appointment of Thaksin as an adviser is purely an internal affair of Cambodia and that revocation of 2001 MOU would slow down and further complicate the already slow and complicated negotiation process.
Regarding the threat to close the land border, the spokesman said such an action would benefit neither side and would actually be more costly to Thailand more than Cambodia.
He cited figures for two-way trade in 2008, which show exports from Cambodia to Thailand were worth only $14 million whereas imports from Thailand to Cambodia were worth $674 million.
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Thailand, Cambodia dispute not good for ASEAN: Singapore
SINGAPORE, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the recent dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is not good for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The ministry said in a statement that Singapore is concerned about the deteriorating relationship between Thailand and Cambodia.
"It is not good for ASEAN. We hope that both our friends will keep the larger interest of ASEAN in mind and find a way to resolve their differences quickly in a spirit of good neighborliness," the ministry said.
The Cambodian government on Thursday evening announced it recalled its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's earlier recall of its ambassador to Cambodia. The diplomatic retaliation occurred after ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was officially appointed as adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni.
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