Thaksin arrives in Cambodia
- Published: 10/11/2009 at 11:13 AM
- Online news: Local News
Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday morning to carry out his new role as economic adviser to the government, the Cambodian government said.
Cambodia announced Thaksin's appointment last week, sparking a dispute that has led Thailand and Cambodia to recall their respective ambassadors and has deepened tensions after a series of deadly border clashes in the past year.
Thailand has also said it could seal the frontier if Thaksin is not extradited, but Cambodian ministry of foreign affairs spokesman Kuoy Kong said his country was "not concerned about these issues".
"We will not extradite him (Thaksin). We already clarified this case because he is a political victim,'' Kuoy Kong said on Tuesday.
Thaksin is living in foreign locations including Dubai to avoid a two-year jail term for conflict of interest while prime minister handed down by the Supreme Court in September 2008. He sksipped bail before the veredict was announced.
He justified his trip to Cambodia -- whose prime minister Hun Sen is a close friend and political ally -- in an open letter published on his website late Monday.
"I am not helping Cambodia to compete with Thailand. I will never do things to hurt my country no matter how badly I disagree with the government," he said.
Thaksin Shinawatra (C) walks to a car at the Phnom Penh military air base on Tuesday morning. He landed in the Cambodian capital to carry out his new role as economics adviser to the government. (AFP Photo)
Thaksin, the former owner of Manchester City football club, was due to give a a speech to hundreds of Cambodian economics experts in the capital on Thursday. He has not said how long he will be in Phnom Penh.
Thaksin won two elections and remains a massively influential figure in Thai politics, stirring up mass protests by so-called "Red Shirt" supporters against the current government.
His presence on Thailand's doorstep is the closest he has come since he last fled the country in August 2008.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government has already given instructions to begin seeking the extradition of Thaksin from Cambodia.
Mr Abhisit was speaking after receiving confirmation that the fugitive politician had arrived at Phnom Penh airport this morning.
He admitted it would be difficult since Thaksin's exact whereabouts were not known, and particularly so if the former prime minister made only brief visits.
The prime minister called on the Cambodian government to think again why so many things that have caused Thai-Cambodian relations to deteriorate happened during the past two weeks.
Mr Abhisit also threatened to review the two countries' extradition treaty if Cambodia fails to comply.
"Cambodia must realise that they have triggered a conflict of interest and criticised the Thai judicial system," he told reporters.
Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the cabinet had also agreed to cancel an oil and gas exploration deal with Cambodia that was signed during Thaksin's time in power.
Mr Abhisit stressed that the cabinet decision to revoke a memorandum of understading with Cambodia involved only the disputed maritime boundery area, not the disputed border area surrounding Phreah Vihear temple.
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- Writer: Online Reporters and AFP
