Suthep: Govt won’t lose face

Published: 18/11/2009 at 11:53 AM
Online news: Local News

It will be good if former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra can use his personal friendship with Cambodian premier Hun Sen to get the release of Siwarak Chutiphong, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday.

"The government has been trying every means to get [Mr Siwarak] free and would not lose face if Cambodian government releases him because of Thaksin’s influence,” said Mr Suthep.

Citing a Cambodian radio station, a local Thai daily reported that Cambodia had agreed to release the alleged Thai spy and had asked Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to fly to Cambodia to bring the man back.

However, Lt-Gen Chawengsak Thongsaluay, a close aide of the party chairman, said Gen Chavalit had not yet made a decision to fly to Cambodia as he needed time to verify the report.

Thaksin on Tuesday said on his internet channel, Thaksinlive.com, that he had asked the Cambodian government to ensure the Thai engineer receives a fair trial.

Chavanont Intharakomalsut, secretary-general to the minister of foreign affairs, said Cambodia has pressed a charge of spying, accusing the Cambodia Air Traffic Services engineer of obtaining secret official information and threatening its security. Mr Siwarak was earlier alleged to have passed intermation about the flight schedules of Thaksikn and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to an official at the Thai embassy.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied the charge, insisting that the engineer has nothing to do with spying and that his action has not posed a threat to Cambodia’s security,” Mr Chavanont said.

Mr Suthep said the charge against Mr Siwarak was unjust because Thaksin's flight plans were not a state secret.

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Rational

Discussion 10 : 19/11/2009 at 06:33 AM10
That's funny..how can the government lose face when they never had it. If the government really cared about losing face so much, why don't they try to legitimize their existence by winning their power through winning elections like every other respectable government. It's been almost a year now and they still say Thailand is not ready for elections yet when really it's them that's never ready. The government hopes to turn the economy around before they call elections so they have a better chance of winning. That might not even happen in my lifetime with this government! They keep giving us economic growth estimates that are completely off. Do us a favor, put this Thaksin vs. Thailand battle behind you by calling elections. If the government wins, that neutralizes Thaksin's point that the majority wants him in. The problem is the government doesn't even have confidence in themselves so how can the people.
Aek

Discussion 9 : 19/11/2009 at 12:05 AM9
Thaksin is called a crook, a fugitive despite the fact that there were, have been, and still are many crooks in political office and many govt. offices. Transparency International released it's list of the most corrupt countries in the world and Thailand has nothing to be proud of--more to its shame because corruption has been allowed to go unchecked for decades and has now seeped in to every aspect of govt. and society.

Thaksin is being hounded and scapegoated for his time in office and all out of vengeance and revenge, doing the bidding of the powers that be--who hide behind the scene and use their puppets and cronies to do their bidding.
Weirdo

Discussion 8 : 18/11/2009 at 05:03 PM8
RE - TARA in Discussion 2 : 18/11/2009

He is right of course ! I suggest Abhisit and the Tham. University bestow a double honour of the titles hon. Doctor of Finance and Prof. of Law on Dr. hon. Thaksin Shinavatra.
Furthermore, anybody calling him 'Fugitive'
or similar will be jailed for not less than 12 years. [Take notice B.P. editors]

Weirdo
Nothing better

Discussion 7 : 18/11/2009 at 03:03 PM7
Its always losing face is the most important to the present Govt. Talk less and you will not loose face for sure.
jn

Discussion 6 : 18/11/2009 at 01:38 PM6
Cambodian strong man won't make anything easy for abhisit government, if you look how many cambodian in thai custody treat well by thai government, cutting down a few trees got 12 years, burning cambodian boy abhisit haven't get the culprit yet,it is his time to get revenge you look at the man history he won't let you walk away like nothing happen that not his style he will show you how he got the nick name, the only one man is thaksin can help but after abhisit done to him and the engineer motive is thaksin get arrested by thai authority, it about getting even did any body see it .
Hyperinflation

Discussion 5 : 18/11/2009 at 01:35 PM5
What surprises me is that anyone could think the government could lose face if Hun Sen finally releases Siwarak Chutiphong, whether Thaksin helped out or not. We need to be honest. Thaksin created the problem in the first place. He should hardly be rewarded for helping to clean up his own mess.

In fact, I DEMAND that Thaksin fix this problem, right now!

If Hun Sen wants Gen. Chavalit to play at being messenger boy that is fine by me. As long as in the end Khun Siwarak is back in Thailand and we are still free of war the government will have accomplished its mission.
Ramet in Dallas

Discussion 4 : 18/11/2009 at 01:05 PM4
When Dr. Taksin 'asked the Cambodian government to ensure the Thai engineer receives a fair trial', was he insinuating that the Cambodian government doesn't always give fair trials. Maybe he knows something about Cambodian justice. I wonder if the Cambodian government is insulted by this insinuation. How much sway does Dr. Taksin have with the Cambodian government? Could he have him released for the right deal?
Double Ngo Ngu

Discussion 3 : 18/11/2009 at 12:32 PM3
Suthep: Govt won’t lose face

Yes, indeed as the gomen has nothing more to lose !!!
Tara

Discussion 2 : 18/11/2009 at 12:26 PM2
I commented on this this morning and my hat is off to Khun Suthep, the Bangkok Post and all connected with this story. In this article PM Thaksin was referred to as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra instead of "fugitive", "criminal", etc. You should really try this approach for a while and lets hope for a positive response from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
m

Discussion 1 : 18/11/2009 at 12:21 PM1
Common...be original. Inspired by Bill Clinton and N. Korea, if you know what I mean.

Suthep: Govt won’t lose face