usted Thai premier Thaksin arrives in Cambodian capital

By k on November 10, 2009

BANGKOK, Nov 10 (TNA) – Ousted convicted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday arrived in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, to lecture hundreds of Cambodian economists on his first assignment as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

The Associated Press (AP) news agency quoted Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith as saying that Mr Thaksin flew into Phnom Penh Tuesday but gave no further details.

Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Kuoy Kong was quoted by the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) as saying “We (Cambodia) will not extradite him (Thaksin). We already clarified this case because he is a political victim.”

Mr Thaksin, ousted in bloodless coup in September 2006, was sentenced by Thailand’s Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to a two-year prison term in absentia for having a conflict of interest in Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek land purchase case. However he jumped bail and fled the country.

The ousted Thai premier’s visit to Phnom Penh came after the Cambodian government appointed him economic adviser to the government. He is also personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Mr Thaksin is scheduled to lecture over 300 Cambodian economists at Cambodia’s finance ministry on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuangsuban stood firm in its stance Tuesday that Thailand will seek to extradite Mr Thaksin if he enters the neighbouring country.

“We will proceed the extradition procedure according to the law and diplomatic protocol which the Thai Foreign Ministry has prepared,” Mr Suthep said. “If the Cambodian government rejects our request, the Thai government will consider the next move.”

Mr Suthep also gave reassurances that Thailand would not close its border and that people along the Thai-Cambodian border can live their lives normally, but the security agencies will have to protect the sovereignty of Thailand and not allow any intrusion into Thai soil.

Tensions between the two neighbouring kingdoms flared up after the Cambodian government appointed the convicted ex-Thai premier as its economic adviser and announced that it will not extradite Mr Thaksin if requested by Thailand.

Thailand carried out its first retaliatory move against Cambodia by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh and reviewing cooperation with Cambodia.

The Cambodian government however ignored Thailand’s stance, and recalled its ambassador to Bangkok as a reciprocal action and invited Mr Thaksin to Phnom Penh to lecture this week. (TNA)

Thaksin arrives in Phnom Penh; to visit detained engineer PHNOM PENH, Dec 13 (TNA) — Fugitive, ousted Thai prime...
Cambodia rejects Thailand’s Thaksin extradition request BANGKOK, Nov 11 (TNA) – Cambodia has rejected Thailand’s request...
OAG seeks other options to extradite Thaksin BANGKOK, 12 November 2009 (NNT) – The Office of Attorney...
Thaksin’s interview hurts Thais´ feelings BANGKOK, 10 November 2009 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister Suthep...
Cambodia allows family and Thai officials to visit detained Thai engineer BANGKOK, Nov 26 (TNA) – The Cambodian government will allow...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Readers Comments

Business News »

Loan clients urged to be well-prepared for higher finance costs

July 16, 2010

BANGKOK, July 16 – Loan customers, particularly small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), must have well-prepared business plans to cope with higher financial costs in the face of an upward interest trend, according to the Kasikorn Research Center (KRC), a leading Thai financial think tank. Kasikorn said that major domestic commercial banks had begun raising the [...]

Bank And Finance »

Commercial banks announce hikes in interest rates on fixed deposits

July 16, 2010

BANGKOK, 16 July 2010 (NNT) —Interest rates on fixed deposits and lending rates have been hiked by financial institutions following the hike in the policy rate by the Central Bank. Krungthai Bank has announced its fixed deposit interest rate hike of 0.25-0.35%, while key lending rates would be increased by 0.125-0.15%, effective today. Siam Commercial [...]

General News »

Summary of the 9th APEC Energy Meeting

July 12, 2010

Thai delegates led by Minister of National Resources and Environment, Suwit Khunkitti, along with international counterparts from 20 countries attended the 9th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministerial Meeting in Fukui, Japan on 19 June 2010. During the summit, a speech on the “Low Carbon Paths to Energy Security: Cooperative Energy Solutions for a Sustainable [...]

Economy »

4 Govt agencies cooperate to promote Thai investment abroad

July 12, 2010

BANGKOK, 12 July 2010 (NNT) – The Office of Thailand Trade Representative (TTR) joins force with three financial institutions to promote Thai investments abroad, with operators in various business groups showing keen interest in the project. TTR along with SME Bank, EXIM Bank and the Government Pension Fund (GPF) announced their cooperation in credit support [...]

Energy »

Moody´s chops down PTT´s credit

June 29, 2010

BANGKOK, 29 June 2010 (NNT) – An international credit rating firm, Moody’s Investors Service, has lowered the creditworthiness of Thai petroleum giant PTT Plc from A2 to A3 with a negative outlook. Moody’s Investors Service has changed the local currency issuer rating for PTT Plc from A2 stable to A3 negative while the foreign currency [...]

Politics »

One month needed for Interpol consideration over Thaksin´s case

July 16, 2010

BANGKOK, 16 July 2010 (NNT) – A nod from the Paris-based international police intelligence-sharing association, Interpol, over case of self-exiled ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should be known within one month. Police Maj-General Terdsak Rujirawong, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Foreign Affairs Division, said on Friday that an arrest warrant on terrorism charge issued [...]