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The government is ready to arrest fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if he enters Thailand, travels across the Thai border or flies over the country's territory, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban warned on Monday.

Mr Suthep urged Thai people to call on Cambodian government advisor Thaksin to return to Thailand to fight his corruption charges so problems in the country would end.

On Thaksin's trip from India to Cambodia on Nov 19, Mr Suthep said the flight had already asked Thailand's permission to pass through the country. However, the government was not aware that Thaksin was on that flight.

"If the government knew that Thaksin was on the plane, we would notify the flight operator about a fugitive passenger on the plane and it would not be permitted to pass through," he said.

Thaksin did not fly across Thailand when he left Phnom Penh on his private jet on Saturday.

The deputy prime minister, who is in charge of security affairs, also thanked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for his offer to be a mediator to resolve the Thai-Cambodian row.

"I would like to thank the Indonesian president for his generosity, but this is an issue between two countries and the government does not want to raise it to an Asean level," he said.

16/11/2009
Bangkok Post

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wrote on his Twitter page Monday that he could not even enter the airspace of Thailand.

"I am prohibited not only from stepping on my motherland but also from entering the airspace. They said they would send a fleet of jet fighters to force my plane down," he wrote.

Mon, Nov 16, 2009
The Nation/Asia News Network

Officials at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh are expected to be allowed to visit the Thai engineer being detained in a Cambodian prison today, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Monday.

Mr Suthep was referring to Siwark Chotphong, an engineer with Cambodia Air Traffic Services, who was arrested by Cambodian police last Wednesday on spying charges.

Mr Siwarak was accused of giving former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's flight schedule to the Thai embassy's first secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai, who was expelled by Cambodia on Thursday.

Mr Suthep said he expected the Thai embassy officials to be able to meet Mr Siwarak today to know details of the charges and find ways of fighting the case.

The government will send details of Thaksin's flight schedule to lawyers to show that the flight plan was not classified but open information and that there was no need to get it through espionage, he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Wimon Kidchob said Thai charge d'affaires Chalothorn Paovibul had submitted an official request to visit Mr Siwarak. Mr Chalothorn would himself visit Mr Siwarak and officials concerned. However, Cambodia had not yet replied to the request, she said.

Mrs Wimon said it was nothing unusual for Mr Siwarak to know the first secretary who was expelled.

She declined to say what action would be taken if Cambodia rejected the request.

16/11/09
Bangkok Post

Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh will submit a request again on Monday to visit a Thai engineer who was arrested of allegedly spying last week, said Chawanont Indharakomansut, secretary of foreign minister.

Phnom Penh authorities turned down a request of Thai embassy on Saturday to visit Siwarak Chothipong, an engineer of Cambodia Air Traffic Services, who was arrested on Thursday in Phnom Penh, saying it was holiday.

"Thai embassy's charge d'affiars will ask for the visit again today (Monday). We would like to get information from Khun Siwarak about the allegations," he said.

Cambodia claimed that its police arrested Siwarak and seized flight informations of convicted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's premier Hun Sen from him.

The Cambodian authorities told us that Khun Siwarak is fine, he said.

Chawanont dismissed as groundless a report that Cambodia had arrested a security official of Armed Forces Security Center in Phnom Penh on the same charge.
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Mon, November 16, 2009
The Nation

BANGKOK, Nov 16 (TNA) – Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have eased somewhat, in part because the well-being of the Thai engineer detailed on accusations of spying is not at risk, acting Thai government spokesman Panitan Watanayagorn said Monday.

Dr Panitan, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, said the overall situation has improved but the government must continue to monitor possible areas of discord such as a domestic protest in which protesters might use language which might irritate Cambodia.

However, he said, Thailand will clarify to Cambodia and other counties that peaceful protest is the people’s right under the Constitution and the government has no links to the protesters.

Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting will evaluate Thailand’s economic cooperation projects with Cambodia because Thailand may be at a disadvantage as ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra in now economic adviser to the Cambodian government, said the spokesman.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cooperated with Cambodia to assist a Thai engineer detained in Phnom Penh on spying charges. The ministry has proceeded with the case as with other cases in which Thai nationals are held for legal proceedings, he added.

The Thai engineer was accused of stealing information regarding the flight information of Thailand’s convicted fugitive former premier Thaksin prior to his arrival in Cambodia last week.

Thai legal affairs officials are reviewing the charge and the Cambodian judicial process that Thailand must respect. He believed that the defendant can be defended in court regarding the charges.

Dr Panitan said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordered agencies concerned to oversee it, so it is not worrisome.

Several countries queried Thailand about the Thai Cambodian situation at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Singapore as they want to see the tensions ease, Dr Panitan said.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as ASEAN chair invited Cambodian prime minister to attend the climate change conference in Denmark in December to demonstrate strong support from ASEAN member countries.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border remains normal and there is no sign of any violence.

The People's Alliance for Democracy delivered a six-point statement attacking convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at a major gathering in Bangkok yesterday.

Participants at the gathering, which drew about 15,000, were asked to pledge their loyalty to His Majesty the King, religion and the nation.

Most supporters wore their signature yellow shirts, while others were seen in a variety of colours, including red, the colour of the rival United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship movement.

More than 1,500 police were deployed to protect the crowd.

A minor disturbance was reported in the evening when an explosive, believed to be a giant firecracker, was thrown into the crowd by a man on a motorcycle near the Grand Palace.

Nine people, including a boy, were injured.

The victims were taken to Wachira Hospital.

The person suspected of throwing the cracker, whose name was not revealed, was later arrested by police.

Organisers said the event was "colourless" (without political stripes).

They urged people from all walks of life to put aside their political beliefs and unite behind the institution of the monarchy.

"The nation comes before colours," PAD co-leader Sondhi Limpthongkul told the crowd. He said the PAD would hold another gathering on Dec 5, His Majesty's birthday. Mr Sondhi later led a candlelight vigil in reaffirming allegiance to the King and the royal family and calling for the annihilation of "traitors". Phibhop Dhongchai, another PAD core leader, read out a six-point statement stressing that Thailand is indivisible and will always be governed by its constitutional monarchy.

The statement also fired a broadside at Thaksin and demanded the ousted former premier pay for damage he has inflicted on the country.

The alliance holds him accountable for acts of treason by conspiring with the enemy, understood to be Hun Sen, in undermining the country's stability.

The diplomatic spat with Cambodia could also divide the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), making Thaksin a threat beyond Thai borders.

The PAD deflected criticism by Thaksin and Hun Sen against the justice system.

It charged that Thaksin, sentenced by the Supreme Court to two years in jail in the Ratchadaphisek land trial, decried the justice system but sought the court's action in filing defamation cases against his opponents.

Hun Sen, who describes himself as Thaksin's eternal friend, has declared that the Thai justice system is not worthy of respect.

The statement also insisted Hun Sen must stop colluding with Thaksin in inciting animosity in Thailand.

In Yala, there was a similar gathering in which more than 1,000 residents turned out in yellow shirts.

Wichian Iebsakul, who is chairman of a club devoted to Yala, said the gathering of local residents was motivated by their deep respect for the monarchy.

Nit Saksaengsopha, one of the demonstrators, said local residents considered Thaksin's conduct as an act of betrayal to the country.

In Satun, thousands converged on the provincial hall yesterday to protest against Hun Sen's attack against the Thai justice system.

The compound of the provincial hall was overflowing and those in attendance were waving national flags.

SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has brushed aside a proposal by Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan to allow other bloc members to mediate the Thailand-Cambodia dispute.

Mr Abhisit said yesterday the ongoing diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia will not affect cooperation among Asean members so the problem must be solved by the two countries.

However, Mr Abhisit said he is ready to clarify the situation with Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono, whom he is meeting this morning on the final day of the three-day 17th Apec summit in Singapore.

He said Thailand did not have to have bilateral talks with Cambodia.

"The schedule is tight," said Mr Abhisit, adding that Cambodia is not an Apec member, but that Prime Minister Hun Sen has taken part in the Singapore summit at the invitation of Thailand, the current Asean chair.

Asean members will hold talks with the United States after the end of the Apec summit.

Mr Surin yesterday expressed concern over the diplomatic dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and called on a resolution before the talks between Asean and the US.

He said the other eight Asean countries, excluding Thailand and Cambodia, wanted to hear clarification of the situation between Thailand and Cambodia.

"It is possible that some Asean members will discuss this issue when they meet each other before holding talks with the US this evening," Mr Surin said.

"Conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is now beyond the internal affairs of both countries."

It has now gone beyond a technical issue such as border demarcation or the Preah Vihear temple issue.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutarak yesterday said Asean members should know well the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia was started by Cambodia, not Thailand.

Recalling the ambassadors from the two countries back to their homelands last week was the changing point and many countries now believed the problem might affect them, said Mr Surin.

He accepted that other Asean members voiced concerns that the spat might expand beyond this point, which would jeopardise the effectiveness and credibility of Asean. Phnom Penh refused to extradite Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand after he landed in Cambodia on Tuesday.

After Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors, Bangkok said it would terminate a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on maritime disputes.

Cambodia expelled the Thai embassy's first secretary. On Thursday, the Phnom Penh government arrested a Thai engineer working with Cambodia Air Traffic Services on spy charges.

16/11/09
Bangkok Post

Thailand will not dance to Cambodia's tune by withdrawing troops from the disputed Preah Vihear temple area, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

Mr Abhisit said yesterday more pressure would be put on Cambodia next week.

Cambodia's removal of troops from the area was just a tactical ploy, he said. Phnom Penh wanted to give the appearance there were no problems relating to its plans to develop the ancient Hindu temple as a World Heritage site.

"It is their plan and we are not going in that direction," Mr Abhisit said, after a meeting with Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the withdrawal of the 911 special forces unit from its post at the temple. The pullout ceremony was held in Siem Reap yesterday where Hun Sen and fomer Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra met with 60 Puea Thai Party MPs and other Thaksin supporters.

The troop withdrawal came amid increasing tensions between the two neighbours which have escalated since Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economic adviser to his government and also his personal adviser. The ensuing diplomatic spat worsened on Thursday when Cambodia expelled a senior Thai envoy, which caused Mr Kasit to cut short his visit to Singapore.

Mr Abhisit said the government was reviewing projects with Cambodia and some of them might be put forward to the cabinet for consideration next week.

He said the government was not distracted by the diplomatic spat with Cambodia and its diplomatic response was in line with proper procedure.

"There is nothing special about this because we have more important things to do," he said.

Mr Abhisit said the government would take appropriate diplomatic measures against Cambodia.

"We will not take action in haste. The steps we are to take must guarantee results," he said.

The government is reviewing a 1.4 billion baht soft loan for a road project linking Surin province to Siem Reap.

He said Cambodia's actions were intentionally provocative.

"Partly this is because they [Hun Sen and Thaksin] need each other," he said.

Mr Abhisit said the Thai-Cambodian rift was not serious enough to close the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

Mr Abhisit scoffed at Thaksin's remarks that the government was promoting a false sense of patriotism.

"We have not. The sentiment is stirred by Thaksin's actions which are found unacceptable and against the nation's interests," he said.

Thaksin told Puea Thai MPs who visited him in Siem Reap last night the withdrawal of Cambodian troops was down to his friendship with Hun Sen.

Hun Sen told the MPs that he was devastated by Thaksin's fate.

"He is a great asset to Thailand but he has no place to stay. He doesn't even have a passport from his own country," he was quoted as saying.

Hun Sen also said "Cambodia would not interfere in Thailand's internal affairs and the appointment of Thaksin would foster 'unprecedented' relationship between the two countries."

Relations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers deployed in the disputed area seem to have remained undisturbed by the diplomatic flare-up.

Sgt Maj 1st Class Jongrak Taenhom, who is among 10 Thai soldiers deployed near Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri, said there was no tension between Thai and Cambodian soldiers.

"We eat together. We talk. There is no strain or tension. And now they have pulled out, so there is nothing to be tense about," he said.

Bangkok Post

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Sunday morning and will later in the day meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to help tensions between the two countries that share land borders.

No official statement was given about the bilateral meeting between Yudhoyono and Abhisit, but presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said earlier that Indonesia wanted to ease tensions at the border.

Dino said that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had communicated with his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya to discuss about the border tension.

"We hope this tension can be resolved peacefully," Dino was quoted by Antara as saying.

Conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand have originated border from disputes around the famous old temple, Preah Vihear.

The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

Tensions flared in July when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear named a World Heritage Site, leading some Thais to believe their claims to the surrounding land would be undermined.

Both sides have stepped up deployment of soldiers at the border since then, and deadly border classes have occasionally flared up.

Sun, 11/15/2009
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

SA KAEO, Nov 15 (TNA) – Cross-border trade at the Thai-Cambodian frontier in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district on Sunday showed a gradual return to normal after convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra left Cambodia.

At Aranyaprathet’s Ban Klong Luek border crossing, trade activities at Rong Klua market were lively as most Cambodian traders from Poipet resumed their business activities in the area.

Border tensions eased after Thailand’s fugitive ex-premier flew out of Cambodia's Siem Reap on Saturday.

Many Cambodians were following Cambodian media reports on Thursday’s detention of a Thai engineer by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh on charges of spying on Mr Thaksin.

Local Cambodian market talk suggested that the issue could be a trivial matter which will affect bilateral relations to the extent that the Aranyaprathet border crossing would be closed.

Regular Thai gamblers, meanwhile, begin returning to hit the casinos in the neighbouring country.

The atmosphere in on the border in Si Sa Ket province, on the other hand, is still worrisome.

Both Cambodian military and traders along the border of Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province and Cambodia are still concerned about rumours of the closure of the Chong Sa-ngam border crossing.

Anxieties led to Cambodians crossing the border Sunday to stock up on dried Thai foodstuffs and everyday necessities from a market in Phu Sing district to keep in reserve.

Chakkrit Tomasa, a customs official at the Chong Sa-ngam border point, said that the number of Cambodians crossing the border sharply decreased while the amount of purchased goods increased.

Meanwhile, Thai villagers in Praipattana subdistrict near the border have built underground shelters, with financial support of provincial officials, to improve the security of the villagers.

In other developments, Thai foreign ministry official Thani Thongphakdi said that Thailand had presented the letter asking for access to the Thai detainee in Phnom Penh.

The foreign ministry information department deputy director said the ministry had forwarded a letter seeking permission from Khmer authorities to visit detained 31-year-old Siwarak Chothipong, an engineer at Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS).

The Thai worker was accused of given confidential information on Mr Thaksin’s flight schedule to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

Mr Thani said until now there was no reply from Cambodia giving permission, but it is the weekend and the office concerned is not open. The ministry would closely follow up the request.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of Thais gathered in central Bangkok on Sunday to protest at remarks made about the monarchy by fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The demonstrators were also angry about the ousted premier's visit last week to neighboring Cambodia, which refused to extradite him, sparking a diplomatic row.

Police said around 6,000 demonstrators were present by 5 p.m. (10 a.m. British time), making it one of the biggest protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) since its week-long seizure of Bangkok's two airports late in 2008, which helped weaken a pro-Thaksin administration that lost power last December.

PAD's re-emergence on the street will add to the tension in Bangkok, where Thaksin's "red shirts" have stepped up their anti-government protests in recent weeks and will be galvanized by his appearance so close to home in Cambodia.

"We want to send a message out there that the Thai people are loyal to their monarchy and will not let anyone tread on it," PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan told Reuters.

The PAD brings together royalists, businessmen, academics and the urban middle classes opposed to Thaksin's attempt to shake up the business and political establishment. The former telecoms tycoon remains popular with poorer voters.

Its supporters normally don yellow shirts, but that was not the case this time, with the organizers trying to emphasize all Thais, not just PAD people, were angered by Thaksin's behavior.

The PAD has accused Thaksin in the past of irreverence toward King Bhumibol Adulyadej, seen as semi-divine by many Thais, and of having republican leanings, which he denies.

Those allegations were revived last week after an interview he gave to Britain's Times newspaper in which he reportedly blamed "palace circles" for his downfall, taking care to exclude the king, queen and crown prince from any criticism.

Thaksin has lodged a complaint at what he called distortions in the story, complaining in particular about a website headline.

ANGER AT CAMBODIA

The rally also aimed to express anger at Cambodia's appointment of the fugitive premier as an economic adviser.

"We want to show our love for the motherland and that the country's dignity and integrity must be protected," Panthep said.

Thaksin left Cambodia on Saturday, having given a lecture and met officials as part of the job given to him by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. He also met supporters, including scores of Thai members of parliament, during his stay.

Cambodia refused Thailand's request that Thaksin be extradited to serve a two-year jail term for a conflict-of-interest conviction in 2008, setting off a diplomatic row in which the two countries withdrew their ambassadors.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva blamed Cambodia for the row in a weekly broadcast to the country, saying it had not only failed to extradite a fugitive but had cast aspersions on Thailand's legal and political systems.

"Our goal is clear, that we do not want a problem that will lead to violence," he said, adding that life along their common border -- scene of deadly clashes over the past 18 months because of a row over a disputed ancient temple -- remained normal.

The PAD was founded in 2005 by Sondhi Limthongkul, a former business associate of Thaksin. Sondhi survived an assassination attempt in April.

PAD street protests against Thaksin's government fueled the instability that led to the military coup that toppled him in 2006.

Abhisit took power in December, luring some former Thaksin allies into a coalition government, with a nudge from the army.

Some members of his Democrat Party are PAD activists -- Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya took part in the airport siege -- but the PAD has recently taken its distance from Abhisit, going so far as to form its own party.

(Additional reporting by Boontiwa Wichakul; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Alex Richardson)

SINGAPORE, Nov 15 (TNA) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono early Sunday conferred on bilateral relations as well as on the ongoing diplomatic standoff between Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia, according to Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya.

The discussion was held on the sidelines of the three-day 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings which are scheduled to end later Sunday in Singapore.

Mr Kasit said Mr Yudhoyono expressed concern over the Thai-Cambodian dispute and offered to mediate the crisis. The Thai premier reportedly told the Indonesian leader that his government will remain patient so that the problem would not affect the peoples of the two countries.

Mr Yudhoyono is scheduled to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday afternoon regarding the diplomatic row between the two countries and, according to Mr Kasit, results or progress from the meeting will be conveyed to him by his Indonesian counterpart.

Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia along with Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, are ASEAN members.

Diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Thailand worsened after they recalled their ambassadors, expelled the first secretaries of each embassy, and the Cambodian government arrested a Thai man which it accused of spying on fugitive, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand has said emphatically that the accusation against the Thai national is groundless.

The Thai government has said the problem began with Mr Hun Sen’s appointment of Mr Thaksin as economic adviser to his government earlier this month.

Mr Abhisit, currently chairman of ASEAN, and the ASEAN leaders are to hold a summit with US President Barack Obama on relations between the regional bloc and the US which also include economic and security cooperation.

Mr Abhisit is scheduled to return to Bangkok Sunday evening.

Men on a motorcycle threw a firecracker Sunday into a rally protesting against fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, wounding four people including a child, an organiser said.

Men on a motorcycle threw a firecracker Sunday into a rally protesting against fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, wounding four people including a child, an organiser said.

Police confirmed the same number of injured in the incident at the demonstration in central Bangkok led by the royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement, but said they were still investigating the cause.

"Four people including a child were injured when two men on a motorcycle threw a firecracker," Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), told reporters at the rally.

The protest was held to condemn this week's visit to Cambodia by Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 and is living abroad, mainly in Dubai, to avoid a jail sentence for corruption.

Bangkok police said that four people suffered cuts from a small explosion that left a hole in the ground around eight centimetres (three inches) wide.

"We don't know the cause. We are investigating," a police official said on condition of anonymity.

Thaksin was appointed an economics adviser to the government in Phnom Penh this month and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen refused to extradite him to Thailand, prompting a major diplomatic row.

11/15/2009
Agence France-Presse

BANGKOK: The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) group staged a mass rally against ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Thailand's capital Bangkok on Sunday.

By 8:30 p.m. local time, over 10,000 PAD protesters, or the yellow-shirted people, were rallying at Sanam Luang in the center of Bangkok after they officially started their protest from 4 p.m., local time.

The PAD rally, which was participated by the supporters from both Bangkok and many provinces across the country, was occurring after Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to the Cambodian government and Hun Sen on November 4.

The PAD supporters ranged from the general public, students, employees of state enterprises, war veteran members, non- governmental organizations, to taxi drivers.

Meanwhile, the protesters' clothes were not only yellow, but also in other various colors as the PAD leaders focused on the country's unity amid the various colors.

The PAD protesters were announcing that they were united to show the world the Thai people's strength and to protect the country's dignity against Cambodia and Thaksin.

"The purpose of this rally, we want to communicate to the world, Thais, and Cambodians, and to former Premier Thaksin and the Cambodian Prime Minister that what they are doing are not right, and the Thai people can not take this," Pibhob Dhongchai, one of the PAD core leaders, said at the rally.

And, among a number of the students participating in the rally, one female student, who was present at the rally stage, urged those pro-Thaksin people to change their mind.

About 1,500 police were deployed to ensure law and order around the rally site.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Sunday the government has not imposed the Internal Security Act during the PAD rally since there was no sign of violence to occur, Thai News Agency reported.

Also, Suthep denied reports, which said the government took its people to join the PAD rally as he said "the government wouldn't do this."

In a related development, Thailand's Acting Police Chief, Police General Pateep Tanprasert echoed Suthep's statement, saying that he was not reported about a third hand, who was feared to incite violence.

Pateep said he has ordered his policemen to closely monitor the rally situation and areas surrounding the rally site.

The PAD core leaders earlier announced that the rally will not prolong as the PAD demonstrators will disperse peacefully at about 11:00 p.m., local time.

By this time, it remained uncertain how the diplomatic standoff between Thailand and Cambodia will end.

2009-11-16
Xinhua

About one in two people commend Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for his measured leadership in dealing with the souring of relations with Cambodia.

About one in two people commend Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for his measured leadership in dealing with the souring of relations with Cambodia.

Three opinion surveys, released yesterday, were designed to gauge public sentiment on bilateral ties.

Abac Poll found that Abhisit was on the right track for staying calm in spite of the provocation.

About two in five people urged the prime minister to take "harsher" measures in light of the provocative developments.

More than half of the 1,344 respondents in the nationwide poll saw the heightening of tensions as a political game.

Suan Dusit Poll said seven in 10 people felt a stronger sense of patriotism following the diplomatic spat with Cambodia.

About four in five in the South cautioned fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra that he risked being seen as a traitor by accepting the appointment as an economic adviser to Cambodia, Hat Yai University Poll said.

Three in 10 believed Thaksin was putting his personal interest before that of the country's.

More than half of the 1,190 respondents expressed approval for the government's cancellation of the Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding on the overlapping area of the continental shelf.

One in two were optimistic that the mounting friction would not lead to war because the Thai government could keep the situation under control.

As for perceived security threats, one in four said Thaksin's offensive remarks against the monarchy were the most harmful to the country.

16/11/09
The Nation

The situation in Cambodia has not deteriorated to the point of warranting concern for the safety of Thai expatriates there, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said yesterday.

He also vowed that the Thai citizen charged with spying in Phnom Penh would receive due justice as guaranteed by international law.

"If necessary, the government stands ready to provide confirmation that the flight plan is not classified information and that the flight in question was known before the arrest of the Thai air-traffic controller," he said.

The Foreign Ministry and the Thai company operating air-traffic control services at Phnom Penh International Airport will provide legal assistance to Siwarak Chothipong, accused of leaking the flight plan of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Even though the government is in no position to meddle with the Cambodian judicial process, the charge will likely be dropped in light of the evidence," he said.

Talks with Cambodia to mend fences at this juncture were unlikely to resolve any differences, he said.

The Cambodian government should take the welfare and benefits of the peoples of the two countries into consideration instead of acting on a whim to vent its displeasure at the Thai administration, he said.

The rumour of the arrest of another Thai spy, reportedly working in Siem Reap under Thailand's Armed Forces Security Centre, was unfounded, he said.

Thai citizens should remain calm and not act hastily to fall into the trap laid out by the Cambodian government, he said.

The future of Thai-Cambodian ties hinges on whether Cambodia would adjust its stance toward Thaksin, he said.

The Cambodian government appears to put more value in accommodating the fugitive rather than maintaining cordial relations with Thailand, he said.

The Foreign Ministry plans to lodge its strongest protest if Cambodian authorities file false and trumped-up charges against Siwarak, said Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister.

Cambodian authorities dismissed the consular request from Thai charge d'affaires Chalothorn Phaovibul to visit Siwarak in his prison cell on grounds that it was the weekend, he said.

In a telephone interview from Phnom Penh, Chalothorn said Siwarak was detained at a Phnom Penh prison.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Smutharaks said CTN, a Cambodian television station, had aired a news commentary on Thai-Cambodian relations that made inappropriate references to the Thai monarchy.

He called on Thai authorities to file a complaint in order to prevent a repeat of such an offence, which might lead to the escalation of tensions

16/11/09
The Nation

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra must feel at home with the red-carpet welcome accorded him by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and with his new job as economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

Mr Thaksin’s meeting with some 300 top Cambodian businessmen and officials on Thursday morning in Phnom Penh, when he delivered a lecture on economic affairs and slammed the Thai leadership, most certainly gave him a sense a de'ja'vu – recollections of the old days when he sat at the head of the table controlling the cabinet meeting and lecturing his ministers who merely listened and rarely raised objections.

And, as in the good old days when he was always surrounded by his followers, the fugitive will today be feted by Hun Sen in the company of his faithful followers from the Puea Thai party who flocked in droves into Cambodia to pay him a visit and to ostensibly engage in light chit-chat.

Aside from Hun Sen who continues to treat Thaksin as his “eternal friend”, many Cambodians, especially the grassroot people, will, I believe, warmly embrace the fugitive with the hope that he can help lift them above the poverty line, so they no longer have to envy the Thai people next door. Several businessmen who attended his lecture admitted they were impressed with him.

Personally, I don’t envy the Cambodians at all over the free-of-charge advice being delivered by Thaksin in his capacity as economic adviser. In fact, I wish them the best of luck.

Honestly speaking, the row between Thailand and Cambodia was exacerbated from Hun Sen’s unprovoked conduct and perceived interference in Thailand’s internal affairs more than it was from Thaksin’s acceptance of the job in Cambodia. This was clearly evident in Hun Sen’s interview on November 9 when he publicly insulted Thailand and the Thai justice system and accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of being a “thief” for stealing the premiership.

But despite Hun Sen’s unbecoming conduct, most Thais do not hold a grudges against the Cambodian people. On the contrary, many of them despise a handful of Thais whom they suspect are using the hands of Hun Sen or vice versa to hurt Thailand.

Now, since Mr Hun Sen is being so generous with Thaksin and values his friendship so highly that Thai-Cambodian relations mean nothing to him, how about granting the fugitive permanent residence in Cambodia -- so that he does not have to hop from one country to another like a drifter.

And instead of just making Thaksin an adviser, why not make him a minister, which would at least partially fulfill his ultimate ambition for a political comeback in Thailand. If that cannot be legally done, then just change the law, since Hun Sen is already in total control of the Cambodian parliament. Or he could just grant Thaksin honorary citizenship of Cambodia which is quite a common practice for a government to honour a foreign citizen in return for his or her valuable contribution to its country.

Who knows, the ousted prime minister just might even be happy with that, and finally find peace of mind in such a generous -- though admittedly outlandish – offer. And with that, just maybe, Thailand and Cambodia could forget their row over the man from the North and become good neighbours again. As they should be.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

BANGKOK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) protest against ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen kicked off on Sunday in Thailand's capital Bangkok.

The PAD protesters or the yellow-shirted people officially started their protest at Sanam Luang in the center of capital Bangkok from 04:00 p.m. local time.

The rally was occurring after Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Hun Sen on Nov. 4.

A day after the appointment of Thaksin, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.

A clear majority of people agree that Thailand and Cambodia should open talks to settle their latest conflict and oppose any closure of the border checkpoints, Bangkok Poll at Bangkok University reported on Friday.

The pollsters quizzed 1,218 people in Bangkok, Nonthburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakarn on Nov 11 and 12 about the diplomatic dispute, the trip to Cambodia by fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his recent interview with Times Online.

It found that 61.5 per cent of respondents agreed the government should hold talks with Phnom Penh to improve relations, 20.7 per cent wanted the government to impose harsh retaliatory measures to protect the country’s dignity, while 17.8 per cent had no opinion.

Asked about the government’s decision to revoke the memorandum of understanding on the overlapping maritime boundary in the Gulf of Thailand with Cambodia, 41.2 per cent supported the move, while 36.1 per cent disagreed.

On the government’s plan to cut financial support to Camboldia, 41.4 per cent showed approval and 40.4 per cent opposed it.

Bangkok Poll said 55.2 per cent supported the government’s request for Thakin’s extradition, and 29 per cent were against it.

There was strong opposition to closing the border, with 68.6 per cent agreeing it would hurt people kin both countries living along the border. Only 19.8 per cent supported the idea.

Asked about Thaksin’s interview with Times Online in which is deemed to have insulted the monarchy, 44.9 per cent were not sure he actually did, 35.1 per cent believed Thaksin had intentionally criticised the high institution, while 20 per cent said the in-exile politician had no intention to do so.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

The government has no plan to close the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, even though Cambodia has now expelled the embassy's first secretary, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Friday.

Kamrob Palawatwicha, the first secretary, was declared "persona non grata" on Thursday and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. In response, Thailand expelled the Cambodian first secretary from Bangkok.

Mr Abhisit said the government would not fall into a trap set by Cambodia and would be careful when deciding its next moves.

"We have to understand why they are provoking us. We will not make precipitous decisions," Mr Abhisit told reporters. "We will protect our benefits and will not be drawn by their psychological games."

Mr Abhisit said Cambodia's announced plan to withdraw some troops from disputed area near Preah Vihear temple was another ploy to convince Unesco's World Heritage Committee that there were no tensions between the two countries in that area

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

The noisy row between Thailand and Cambodia over fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra continued to dominate the front pages, as Thaksin's comments on the monarchy reported in an interview with The Times further inflamed passions.

The spat which began a week ago when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen offered a safe haven for Thaksin and then appointed him economic adviser intensified into the downgrading of diplomatic relations. The Thai government early this week recalled its ambassador in Phnom Penh, saying Hun Sen had interferred in Thailand's internal affairs. Phnom Penh immedlately responded in kind.

Bangkok also began reviewing all its legal obligations with Cambodia. One of the first casualties will be the 1.4 billion baht grant provided by Thailand for the construction of a road in Cambodia. But the Thai government has repeatedly stated it will not shut the border with Cambodia.

The already heated relations nosedived on Wednesday when Thailand’s formal request for Thaksin’s extradition was flatly rejected by Phnom Penh.

One day later, Phnom Penh expelled the first secretary at the Thai embassy, Kamrob Palawatwichai. In quick response, Bangkok also told the first secretary of the Cambodian embassy to leave within 48 hours.

"The Thai diplomat has executed work in contradiction to his position," Cambodia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said on Thursday, but refused to give further details.

On Friday, Cambodian police announced a Thai mechanic had been arrested on Wednesday on espionage charges, Xinhua news agency reported.

Sivarak Chotipong, 31, employed by Cambodia Air Traffic Services, had allegedly passed Thaksin's and Hun Sen's travel details to Thai authorities, Xinhua reported.

It was not known if the two incidents were linked, but the abrupt expulsion of the Thai envoy did coincide with Thaksin’s lecture to Cambodian state officials and businessmen in Phnom Penh as he began his job as Cambodia’s economic adviser after arrivingn by private jet on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen seemed bent on fuelling the tense bilateral conflict. In a press interview on Nov 9 upon his return from the Mekong region summit in Tokyo, he poured scorn on Thailand, the Thai judicial system, the Thai military and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva - whom he likened to a thief for stealing the seat of power (from Thaksin).

While the two governments are engaged in diplomatic tie-for-tat, the Thai and Cambodian armies maintained their distance from the feuding. The border remains calm with not troop reinforcements - only a Camboldian promise to withdraw a paratroop unit.

Aside from provoking uproar at home on his arrival in Phnom Penh, Thaksin sparked off widespread umbrage over his reported interview with The Timesonline website, which touched on the monarchy in a manner deemed as offensive to the highly respected institution.

Thaksin denied he intended to offend the monarchy and accused Timesonline of twisting his words. Thaksin also offered an apology in his Twitter column.The Times posted a transcript it said was approved by Thaksin's interpreter.

The government was not amused and asked its legal people if lese majeste charges could be brought against the fugitive.

Fired up by what they viewed as the provocative actions of Thaksin and Hun Sen, the People’s Alliance for Democracy announced a mass demonstration of "people power" in support of the monarchy and against Thaksin and Hun Sen this Sunday afternoon at Sanam Luang.

While the Abhisit government is busily fending off assaults from Thaksin and Hun Sen, its power base in the parliament appears to have weakened to an extent that the coalition alliance may be threatened.

The debate in the parliament on the controversial Thai-Cambodian border committee’s minutes on Monday was abruptly adjourned for lack of a quorum. Bitter bickering between government and opposition MPs in the parliament the following day also forced an adjournment.

House meetings are frequently stopped while a call is made for a quorum, and then adjourned for the simple reason too few MPs are present in the building or they don't bother to respond.

Political observers warn that this is a dangerous sign for the government’s political stability, and also unbecoming of the standards expected of MPs elected to represent the people in the parliament.

The curtain has finally fallen on one of the country’s most infamous corruption cases – the multi-billion baht Klong Dan water treatment project in Samut Prakan. The Dusit district court sentenced former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame and ten other people to three years imprisonment for colluding to sell land at inflated prices to the Pollution Control Department for the project and of wrongfully issuing land titles to public land sold to the project.

Vatana was earlier given a 10 year jail sentence after he was found guilty by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on related charges. He jumped bail before verdict was delivered and he wasn't in court when the latest verdict was anounced on Thursday. He is believed to be in Cambodia, where he has casino interests.

The Election Commission on Tuesday decided to extend by another 30 days its probe into the donation scandal surounding the prime minister's Democrat Party.

EC secretary-general Sutthipol Thaweechaikarn said the EC has yet to question Mr Prachai Liewpairat, the former top executive of TPI Polene, who is accused of donating 258 million baht to the Democrats via the Messiah Business and Creation Company. The limit on indicvidual and company donations is 10 milion baht.

He said that EC could not question Mr Prachai on Oct 27 because he informed them he was abroad on business. He was warned the EC would issue a summons for him to show up and testify in Novembner, as he has promised. If he failed to attend, he faced a six-month jail term and/or a fine of 10,000 baht.

The opposition Puea Thai party suspected the EC was dragging its feet and prolonging the case to help the Democrats.

Former prime minister Anand Panyayachun accepted the job of chairing the four-party panel set up to investigate and resolve the Map Ta Phut industrial estate pollution dispute between local resident and investors which lead to the Administrative Court suspending work on 76 new factories.

The affected residents took the case to the court accusing the factories at Map Ta Put of discharging pollutants into the environment and causing them health problems. The Administrative Court ruled in favour of the villagers by suspending all the construction work, affecting projects worth altogether about 400 billion baht.

A final decision rests with the Supreme Administrative Court.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said Friday that he expected the Cambodian government would expel all Thai envoys and order the closure of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

Sanan said he expected that the Cambodian government would completely cut ties with Thailand after it expelled the first secretary of the Thai embassy Thursday.

The first secretary was expelled following a report that a Thai engineer in the Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co Ltd was arrested for having spied on the flight schedule of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's private jet and sent the information to someone in Thailand.

The Nation

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday that Cambodia's arrest of a Thai engineer on spying charges is nothing more than intimidation with the intention to defame Thailand.
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Cambodia has charged Siwarak Chothipong, an engineer of Cambodia Air Traffic Services, for "stealing" the flight information of ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's PM Hun Sen.

Cambodian prosecutors alleged that Siwarak stole the information and sent it to Thai embassy's first secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai.

Cambodia on Thursday expelled Kamrob following the accusation that he had executed work in contradiction to his position. He was ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.

"It is clearly intimidation with intent to defame Thailand by Cambodia," said Kasit, who cut short his participation in ministerial preparatory meetings for the Apec Summit in Singapore.

He accused Thaksin of being the major cause of all the problems Thailand having with Cambodia.

He said he had assigned officials of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh to assist and provide legal advice to Siwarak.

Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin as the adviser to Hun Sen and his government has seen the start of the current diplomatic rows between the neighbouring countries. Both have recalled their ambassadors and the first secretaries. Thailand has downgraded relations and reviewed cooperation with and loans given to Cambodia.

13/11/09
The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he had not been informed of the arrest of a Thai man in Phnom Penh on charge of spying.

"I've not received any report yet. I'll check with security agencies whether they have received any report or not," Suthep said.

The Thai man was identified as Siwarak Chothipong, 31. He was working as engineer for Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co Ltd and allegedly copying information of flight schedule of the private jet of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and sent the information back to Thailand.

The Nation

The diplomatic conflict between Thailand and Cambodia should be brought to an end before the Asean-US summit scheduled for Sunday, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean), Surin Pitsuwan, said on Friday.

“The dispute is no longer an internal affair of Thailand or Cambodia. It is a conflict between two member countries of Asean and could affect the organisation’s plan to become an economic community in the near future,” he told reporters in Singapore.

Mr Surin said he had sent letters to foreign ministers of all member countries of Asean asking for help in settling the escalating dispute between the two countries.

The conflict arose after prime minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra economic adviser to his government and his personal adviser.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

About 50 MPs of the Puea Thai Party skipped the parliament meeting, travelled to Sa Kaew's Aranyaprathet district and crossed the border into Cambodia on Friday to visit their boss Thaksin Shinawatra in Siem Reap.

The MPs, led by Chiang Mai MP Surapong Towichakchaikul, arrived at Aranyaprathet in eight vans.

Mr Surapong said in a telephone interview that he and fellow Puea Thai MPs had arrived in Cambodia and would have a dinner with Thaksin at a hotel in Siem Reap and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen would also join them.

Apart from visiting Thaksin on behalf of the people, the MPs would also on a field trip to see cross-border trade between the two countries, he said.

On the Democrat Party's allegation that they had failed to perform their duty in parliament in violation of the charter, Mr Surapong said he and the other Puea Thai MPs had taken business leave as allowed by parliament regulations.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva must remove Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya if he wishes to rapidly end the escalating diplomatic dispute with Cambodia, spokesman fof the opposition Puea Thai Party Prompong Nopparit said on Friday.

“The minister is the root cause of problem as he has a personal conflict with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen,” Mr Prompong said. This personal conflict had now developed into a serious dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Asked about the several Puea Thai MPs who skipped today's parliamentary meeting and went to meet Thaksin Shinawatra in Cambodia, the spokesman said it they were not acting in response to any party resolution.

“It is a personal matter as they love and respect the former prime minister,” he said.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

The Thai man who was arrested in Cambodia is not a spy and the Foreign Ministry is taking care of him, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday.

Sivarak Chotipong, 31, a mechanic at Cambodia Air Traffic Services, is alleged to have passed flight schedules for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to the Thai authorities.

MrKasit said Mr Sivarak is not a government spy and he believed the man had been framed. The Foreign Ministry would ensure he receives proper treatment and justice.

As for Thai staff at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, Mr Kasit said the Cambodian government is duty-bound to ensure their safety. Thailand accepts the same responsibility for staff at the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok.

Mr Kasit said problems caused by the former Thaksin regime were still far from at an end. Thaksin was now using a neighbouring country as a base in his efforts to topple the Abhisit government, serving his own interests and causing damage to Thailand without any care for the majority of people.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Nov 12 (IPS) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is known for his brash and earthy vocabulary even when, as he did in early April, he talks about himself. ”I am neither a gangster nor a gentleman, but a real man,” the politician who has led his country for 25 years said in a fit of rage.

The target of his ire at the time was Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, following comments the latter had made during a parliamentary debate in the Thai capital.

Hun Sen criticised Kasit for calling him a ”gangster” during that debate, but Kasit shot back, saying his description of Hun Sen in Thai had got lost in translation. The actual words were ”Nak Leng,” Kasit had explained, which in Thai means ”a person who is lion-hearted, a courageous and magnanimous gentleman.”

It was Kasit's second run-in with the Cambodian leader in under a year. In late 2008, when the former veteran Thai diplomat was in the political wilderness as a speaker for a conservative, right-wing protest movement, he had called Hun Sen a ”thug” during a speech at a public rally.

If the new Thai government, formed under a cloud of controversy last December, was hoping that Hun Sen would move on from such moments, then the current war of words between the two countries suggests otherwise.

”The Thais seem to have forgotten that Hun Sen has a very good memory. He does not forget easily,” a South-east Asian diplomat from a regional capital told IPS on the condition of anonymity. ”He unearths details and history he knows well to go after those who criticise him.”

But the current war of words between Cambodia and Thailand has degenerated into personal insults and a trading of charges about interfering into each country's judicial and domestic affairs.

Hun Sen raised the stakes this week in an increasingly volatile relationship between the two South-east Asian kingdoms by targeting his Thai counterpart, Abhisit Vejjajiva, in a verbal barrage.

”I would not be surprised if there was a link here with comments made by political allies of Abhisit,” the diplomat added. ”It is Hun Sen getting back.”

Besides words, Phnom Penh also rejected a request by Bangkok on Wednesday for the extradition of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to begin his new role as Hun Sen's economic advisor.

Thaksin, whose popular elected government was turfed out of power in a 2006 military coup, has been living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term after a Thai court found him guilty in a conflict-of-interest case.

To goad the Abhisit administration, Hun Sen welcomed Thaksin with warm hugs and handshakes, and offered his own villa in Phnom Penh for the fugitive former Thai premier to stay in.

Bangkok has not fallen for Phnom Penh's bait, for now. Even though it bristles at such hospitality and the verbal salvos fired by Hun Sen, the Thai government is trying to stay above the fray, offering statements that appear calm and diplomatic.

”The government is stressing that the problem between both countries is still a bilateral issue,” Thani Thongphakdi, Thai foreign ministry's deputy spokesman, told IPS. ”We want to see a positive sign from Cambodia that gives precedence to bilateral ties over personal relationships.”

Yet at the same time, the Thai government is taking a tougher line towards the range of ties it maintains with its eastern neighbour. ”We are reviewing existing agreements, existing cooperation and future cooperation between the two countries,” Thani revealed. ”Everything is on the table.”

Bangkok's unilateral actions against Cambodia has already seen the Thai ambassador in Phnom Penh withdrawn and Thailand revoking a memorandum of understanding between the two countries to explore oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand.

It followed Hun Sen's tongue-lashing that targeted Abhisit. ”People should know that when I was starting my political career, the Thai prime minister (Abhisit) was still a child running around, playing,” Hun Sen told Cambodian journalists on Sunday, the transcripts of which IPS has seen.

”If Abhisit is so sure of himself, then he should call an election. ‘What are you afraid of? Is it that you are afraid you will not be the prime minister?'” Hun Sen continued, driving home his current achievement as South-east Asia's longest-standing premier, as opposed to Abhisit, who has been in office for less than a year.

”I am prime minister of Cambodia who has received two-thirds of the vote in the Cambodian parliament. How many votes does Abhisit have? ‘You have chosen somebody else's chair to seat yourself in',” goaded Hun Sen, referring to the question of legitimacy that has dogged the Abhisit government. ”You claim other people's property as your own. How can we respect that?”

The 57-year-old Hun Sen has been Cambodia's premier for 25 years, a period where he has not shied from revealing his authoritarian streak, using a mix of violence, intrigue and verbal attacks to cling to power. His journey to power began on the economic and social fringes of the poorer Cambodia, including a short stint when still a teenager as a soldier for the genocidal Khmer Rouge in the later 1970s.

The 45-year-old Abhisit hails from the opposite end, being born into wealth, enjoying a British education and feeling at home among Thailand's patricians. He formed a coalition government after a controversial court ruling last December saw the collapse of the elected government, paving the way through a combination of military influence and cash enticements to broker a deal to secure a parliamentary vote than a win at a general election.

Hun Sen's penchant for dipping into his country's history to take on the Abhisit administration is also threatening to expose a darker side of Thailand's relationship with its poorer and weaker eastern neighbour.

To counter Bangkok's current charges that Phnom Penh is interfering in Thailand's internal politics and judicial system by rolling out the welcome mat for Thaksin, Hun Sen retorts by reminding the Thais about the hospitality they offered to Khmer Rouge leaders like Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea, now about to face justice in a United Nations war crimes tribunal.

”The Thai judiciary has not much value to be respected,” Hun Sen said during his weekend encounter with Cambodian journalists. ”Khmer Rouge leaders Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea were living in Thailand for years. This was a violation of international law that Thailand had signed.”

”Hun Sen is absolutely correct,” said Tom Fawthrop, co-author of ‘Getting away with Genocide? Elusive Justice and the Khmer Rouge Tribunal'. ”In fact after 1979, when the Khmer Rouge were driven out of Cambodia by Vietnam, (Khmer Rouge leader) Pol Pot and other leaders all fled to Thailand.”

”The Khmer Rouge's fight to regain power was aided by logistics and weapons that flowed through Thailand, even tanks,” Fawthrop, a regional expert who spends time in Phnom Penh, told IPS. ”The Thais violated the international law after the 1991 Paris peace accord by letting the Khmer Rouge operate along its border, which was not the case along the Vietnamese and Laotian borders.”

Hun Sen's current anti-Abhisit rhetoric may not be the isolated views of Cambodia's leader but may find resonance among its people, added Fawthrop. ”The Thai-Cambodian relationship has to be looked at in a historical context. The Cambodians feel a huge sense of grievance.”

The diplomatic flare-up with Cambodia worsened yesterday after Phnom Penh expelled a first secretary at the Thai embassy - and Thailand responding in kind.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry ordered Kamrob Palawatwichai to leave the country within 48 hours, from 5pm yesterday.

When Bangkok learnt of the order, they countered by expelling the first secretary at the Cambodian Embassy here, ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours from 5pm, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said.

It was not clear why Cambodia chose to expel Kamrob, one of three first secretaries in Phnom Penh while leaving Chalotorn Phaovibul, the number 2 at the embassy.

However, a security source said Kamrob had had conflicts with the Cambodian foreign ministry over Thailand's refusal to allow a Cambodian ship to enter Thai waters.

Meanwhile Cambodia's foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said, "We expelled the diplomat first, and they responded by asking our first secretary to leave their country within the next 48 hours," Cambodia's foreign affairs ministry spokesman Koy Kuong.

"The Thai diplomat has executed work in contradiction to his position," he said, refusing to give further details.

The move came while on the third day of the fugitive ex-PM's visit to Cambodia. Thaksin gave a lecture on economic issues to about 250 officials at the Economy and Finance Ministry yesterday before leaving for Siem Reap to play golf and visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Earlier, Thailand recalled its ambassador to protest at the appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser while Cambodia recalled its envoy shortly after.

Thailand also revoked a bilateral memorandum of understanding on gas and oil projects in an area in the Gulf of Thailand claimed by both countries.

13/11/09
The Nation

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have plunged even further after the two countries expelled senior diplomatic staff.

The orders came yesterday on the day Thailand decided to review a 1.4 billion baht soft loan to fund a road project linking Surin to Siem Reap.

The review was in retaliation for Phnom Penh's refusal to extradite convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Acting Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Kamrob Palawatwicha, the first secretary at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, was declared "persona non grata" yesterday and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. Mr Kamrob was still in the Cambodian capital yesterday.

"We expelled the diplomat first, and they responded by asking our first secretary to leave their country within the next 48 hours," Cambodia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said.

"The Thai diplomat has executed work in contradiction to his position," he said, but refused to give further details.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Singapore that Thailand ordered Seng Leena, the first secretary of the Cambodian embassy, to leave Thailand in retaliation for the Cambodian decision.

A Thai Foreign Ministry official familiar with the Cambodian issue noted that Phnom Penh's decision was a direct test of Thailand's nerve to see if it would carry out more aggressive diplomacy.

"But the Thai position is, we will use the same measures to counter Cambodia," said the official who requested anonymity.

Despite the latest diplomatic row, Mr Kasit remained confident deteriorating ties could be contained and Thailand would not lose its composure.

He did not rule out more measures to come from Cambodia, saying the diplomatic expulsion could only be "an hors d'oeuvre".

Concerned about the worsening ties with Cambodia, Mr Kasit decided to cancel his appointments in Singapore and return to Bangkok for discussions with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr Kasit insisted an end to the conflict had to come from Cambodia and warned of other measures to counter any move from Phnom Penh.

"This problem was started by Phnom Penh and has to be ended by Phnom Penh," he said.

He also held talks with Papua New Guinea's foreign minister, Sam Abal, to explain the situation concerning Thaksin who had said earlier he had a gold concession in the country. Thaksin visited the South Pacific state last month.

Deputy Finance Minister Pruektichai Damrongrut said in Bangkok the review of the loan for the road project was a further move by the government to protest against Phnom Penh's actions on Thaksin.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the fate of the soft loan, which had been approved by the cabinet, was hanging in balance.

He said another Cambodian request for 31 million baht to fund another road project was likely to be withdrawn from the cabinet agenda.

Mr Suthep also dismissed as "highly unlikely" speculation the diplomatic spat centred on Thaksin would lead to a House dissolution or the collapse of the coalition government.

"Phnom Penh has no right to do anything which will have such a tremendous impact on our country - this is an internal affair," he said.

Mr Suthep called on the public to exercise patience and refrain from any move which could lead to violence.

His message was for the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy supporters who will hold a rally in Bangkok on Sunday.

Speaking after a meeting of the National Security Council, Mr Abhisit reiterated that Cambodia had interfered in Thailand's judicial system and offered Thaksin a job which involved a conflict of interest.

Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia, Prasas Prasasvinitchai, last Thursday in protest against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin as an adviser. Cambodia countered by ordering its ambassador, You Aye, to return home.

13/11/09
Bangkok Post

BANGKOK, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's government on Thursday decided to expel a senior Cambodian diplomat after the Cambodian government announced that it would expel a Thai diplomat, Thai Foreign Ministry said.

The Thai Foreign Ministry has decided to expel the first secretary from Cambodian embassy in Thailand, giving him 48 hours to leave the country, Thai Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Vimon Kidchob told Xinhua.

The spokeswoman, however, stressed that it was not Thai side who started it.

Earlier, the Cambodian government announced that the government has expelled a first secretary of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh and ordered him to leave Cambodia within 48 hours. "He has conducted something against his diplomatic status," said Koy Kong, spokesman of Cambodian Foreign Ministry.

The Thai Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said since the Cambodian government had expelled the Thai first secretary earlier, "we took the measure in the same level and same nature, with nothing beyond it."

These are the latest moves taken by both countries in their row over Thaksin Shinawatra's appointment on Nov. 4 by the Cambodian government as its economic advisor.

Vimon also noted that the measures remain in the government level, and the Thai government is trying to avoid the consequence of the recent bilateral spat from affecting "the livelihood of the people of both countries."

Both sides had recalled their respective ambassadors from each other on Nov. 5.

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong says the first secretary of the Thai Embassy was given 48 hours to leave the country on Thursday for carrying out activities inconsistent with his official duties. He refused to say what he had done wrong.

He says Thailand responded by ordering out the first secretary of Cambodia's mission in Bangkok.

Thaksin last week was named an adviser to Cambodia's government on economic affairs, causing Thailand to recall its ambassador, with Cambodia following suit. Thaksin is now visiting Cambodia.

12/11/09
TimeLive

Thai and Cambodian diplomatic flares again Thursday after Cambodia expels a first secretary of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry ordered one of the Thai Embassy's the first secretaries to leave the country within 48 hours, starting from 5pm.

Learning of the order, the Thai side countered by expelling the first secretary of the Cambodian Embassy in Phnom Penh and ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours, starting from 5pm, said Thai government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn.

12/11/09
The Nation

The government will adhere to peaceful means in solving the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia and the conflict will not be allowed to lead to political changes in the country as some people may want, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after a meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday.

Mr Abhisit called for the people to stay united and not to believe rumours.

"Some people want to see changes in the country.

''Regardless of whether or not there will be a change, it must happen lawfully. There is no reason for the conflict [with Cambodia] to cause any political change in the country," said the prime minister.

Mr Abhisit said the government would adhere to the principle that any move to solve the conflict must not lead to violence between the peoples of the two countries. The government would be careful to ensure that every step taken does not affect the livelihood of the people.

He said there was no call for people to panic at every unfounded rumour. It would only cause even more misunderstanding. He asked the people to support measures to be taken by the government, and to stay united and to be patient.

Mr Abhisit said the government had not despatched any troop reinforcements to the frontier with Cambodia. The situation there remained normal and cross-border commerce was unaffected.

The Foreign Ministry was looking to see which cooperation projects with Cambodia could be reviewed, but would not be drawn into any game-playing with Cambodia. It would protect protect the interests of the country, not of individuals.

It was not necessary to resort tough measures.

"We will adhere to international practice. Shouting loudly does not mean being strong. Sometimes, quiet ways of dealing with a conflict are more effective.

"And the conflict will not be discussed at Asean level," Mr Abhisit said.

On Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's comment in an interview that he would be ready to send former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand, but not as a prisoner, Mr Abhisit said the government was ready to accept Thaksin, no matter what status he arrives under.

"In fact, our extradition request was made according to international practice. Hun Sen could hand over Thaksin in any status, and we would treat him according to the law," the prime minister said.

12/11/09
Bangkok Post

About 450 police officers will be deployed at the yellow-shirt mass rally to be held at Sanam Luang on Sunday, police said.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) announced on Tuesday, saying that it is a show of force to "protect the country's integrity and protest against ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra."

The PAD announced that the group would come out against Thaksin to protest against his two latest moves -- appointment as adviser to the Cambodian government, and for giving an interview to Times Online, with content considered in contempt of the royal institution.

The force would be stationed around Sanam Luang, the Democracy Monument and the Royal Plaza from noon. The PAD planned the rally at 4pm.

Police estimated that there would be as many as 30,000 people joining the protest.

12/11/09
Bangkok Post

12/11/09
The Truth About Thai

We have observed that at least two Cambodian websites providing hot news are currently under attack:

1. www. ilovekhmer.org
2. www.dap-news.com

A total of 45 local red-shirt leaders from Nakhon Ratchasima Wednesday crossed the border at a checkpoint in Si Sa Ket to meet fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Siem Reap.

Thaksin is scheduled to visit Siem Reap Thursday after giving a special lecture to some 300 Cambodian Finance Ministry officials.

The 45 red-shirt leaders crossed the border at 1 pm.

The Nation

12/11/09
The Nation

Cambodian PM Hun Sen's recent interview showed no love lost between him and the current Thai government.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen meets the press and following is an excerpt of his conversation.

Problems with the Thai-Cambodia bilateral ties:

The problem with Thai-Cambodia relations is really a problem between myself and Khun Abhisit (Vejjajiva), the prime minister of Thailand. Before anybody speaks about this, they need to understand that I have been working in politics when the Thai prime minister was still a child.

Border closing:

If you want to close the border, close it. Cambodia will take up action in response. Cambodia will close the border, as well as shut out economic activities as well. Even one mouse will not be permitted to cross the border. We can get Thai goods through other countries. In 2008, Thailand exported US$2 billion to Cambodia - but Cambodia exported only US$90 million to Thailand. I don't want to close the border as it would affect the people, but the Thai prime minister is making threats.

Appointing Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser:

I want to be clear to all Thai people that the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is the one making an issue out of this. Cambodia has appointed a number of foreigners as economic advisers in the past, including Koreans and Australians and I don't see what the prime minister is afraid of. I have explained to the Asean meeting in Hua Hin, and I have been very patient about it, but I have been at the receiving end of Thailand's attack. It was Abhisit who went on and invalidated the MoU (on joint development of overlapping territory in the Gulf of Thailand).

Who is really serving whom?

Khun Abhisit is alleging that Thailand's dignity is at stake. But I want to tell you that the "red shirts" support this appointment (of Thaksin) but the "yellow shirts" don't. And there are those who are remaining quiet about this whole thing. These people know that the Hun Sen government is a good administration. My government is not being used by anybody. I think it's Abhisit who has become a tool of Thaksin. Whenever Thaksin opens up on certain issues, it is Abhisit who reacts accordingly and acted without thinking about the interests of the country and its people. He is using personal reasons to cancel cooperation between two countries. Can Thai people live with a leader like this? Can a person like this lead Asean? Asean will eventually become one market and possibly one currency but it's Thailand who is behaving aggressively against Cambodia. During the Angkor civilisation there were accusations that Thailand had lost territory to Cambodia. Study your history and you will see who is the real aggressor.

What can Asean do?

Cambodia is prepared to negotiate any place, any time, in a bilateral or multilateral setting. But it appeared that Thailand has already decided that this is not going to happen. Asean Secretary-General Surin (Pitsuwan) needs to understand that it has to be comprehensive and should include the 19 September 2006 coup (against Thaksin), the overlapping claims along the border, the appointment of Thaksin as economic advisor. You can use whatever mechanism you want, Cambodia is ready. I helped safe Thailand and Abhisit's face by not talking about this at Asean Summit in Hua Hin. You want to solve this problem you should go to the beginning. If this is about appointing Thaksin, then we need to all the way back to the 19 September coup. If Ahisit is so capable, why not dissolve the Parliament and call for a new election. What is he afraid of? I am the prime minister of Cambodia who received two-third of the vote and how much vote did Abhisit received or did he stole his seat from other people? If so how do you expect to respect you?

Insulting Thailand

Abhisit is faced with all kinds of problems. He could die from it. He has problem with all his neighbours, including Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar. Moreover, he has problem with the yellow shirt, the red shirt and the blue shirt and the white shirt. Even the yellow shirt are not united among their own kind. What due respect does Cambodia has to give Thailand? Appointing Thaksin has nothing to do with Thailand? I have told Abhisit that Thaksin is my friend. Friend don't betray friend.

About disrespecting Thailand's judicial system:

There is nothing in the Thai judicial system that is worth respecting. In the past Khieu Samphan, Nuan Chea was residing in Cambodia before they relocate to Cambodia. This was not only a violation of international laws and norms, Thailand even endorse Khmer Rogue and the peace process. I want the Thai people to know that the government don't even respect international law and so how can we even respect Thai judicial system?

On Preah Vihear Temple:

We negotiated with Thailand three times. We agreed to solve the problem peacefully. But the agreement they signed was erased with their feet. Thailand obstructed Thailand's bid (for Unesco World Heritage) and has the nerve to say that it has nothing to do with Cambodia. It's like they are calling us stupid. Thailand has used Preah Vihear as a hostage and used it to take down a government. I have asked Parliament President Chai Chidchob for help but he said the issue has passed the Parliament. Thailand politicised this issue at the expense of prolonging the problem.

12/11/09
BBC

THAKSIN'S NEW ROLE

Cambodia has angered the Thai government by refusing to extradite Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in Cambodia after accepting a role as an economic adviser to the government there.

Cambodia said it rejected the extradition request because it viewed the charges against Mr Thaksin as being politically motivated.

Mr Thaksin was Thailand's prime minister for more than five years, but was ousted in a military coup in September 2006, accused of corruption and abuse of power.

He has been sentenced to two years in jail in absentia by a Thai court over a conflict of interest case.

Thailand has withdrawn its ambassador from Phnom Penh in protest at Cambodia's protection of Mr Thaksin.

The timing of the spat is particularly embarrassing for Thailand, as it comes just before Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is to chair a meeting between regional leaders and US President Barack Obama, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Singapore.

Some analysts say the Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen - a close friend of Mr Thaksin and his golf partner - would prefer to have Mr Thaksin back in power in Thailand and is trying to undermine the current Thai administration.

PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE

The Preah Vihear temple has been at the centre of a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia for more than a century.

The temple was built mainly in the 11th and 12th centuries, when the Khmer empire was at its height. Its construction was ordered by the kings who commissioned Cambodia's most famous temple at Angkor.

Maps drawn by Cambodia's French colonial rulers and Thailand (or Siam as it was then known) showed the temple as belonging to Cambodia, but in later decades Thailand said the maps were not official and were therefore invalid.

In 1962 the International Court of Justice granted the temple to Cambodia, but Thailand claimed much of the surrounding land, leaving Cambodia's only access to the temple up a steep hillside.

But the territorial row with Thailand lingered on, and in 2001 Thai troops blocked access for more than a year in a dispute about polluted water at the site.

Tensions increased in July 2008, after Cambodia's successful bid to have the temple listed as a World Heritage site.

In April this year, troops from both sides exchanged fire across the disputed border. Thai authorities said at least two Thai soldiers died and seven were wounded.

MARITIME OIL AND GAS

After Cambodia appointed Mr Thaksin as an economic adviser last week, the Thai cabinet decided to cancel a memorandum of understanding on joint oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Thailand.

Both countries claim overlapping areas in the gulf, which are believed to be rich in gas and oil.

Thailand issued petroleum concessions in the area in the 1970s, although no work was carried out because of the disputed claims. Cambodia in turn awarded exploration deals in 1997 subject to the settling of the dispute.

Cambodia claims Thailand cannot now unilaterally revoke the memorandum of understanding, saying it is against international law.

OTHER ISSUES

Simmering resentment between Cambodia and Thailand goes back centuries - to well before the modern countries existed - when rival Siamese and Khmer kingdoms fought each other for territory and power.

European colonial expansion forced a sometimes arbitrary definition of borders, which in some areas continue to be disputed.

While bilateral trade has flourished with massive Thai investment in Cambodia, the relationship has remained uneasy.

Cambodian disenchantment with Thailand flared into violence in 2003 when a Thai actress - popular both at home and in Cambodia - allegedly said that the 900-year-old temple complex at Angkor belonged to Thailand and should be returned.

Suvanant Kongying denied making the remarks, but the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was badly damaged by rioters.

One person was killed and several injured in the riots and many Thai businesses were also destroyed.

Cambodians see Angkor Wat as a vital part of their identity but over the centuries there have been times when the temple complex has been occupied by Thai forces.

12/11/09
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday he was disappointed in opposition Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's activities against the government.

Former prime minister Chavalit's proposal for the government to dissolve the House of Representatives as quickly as possible was one-sided, Mr Abhisit said.

"I'm disappointed in Gen Chavalit because I thought he re-entered politics to bring about reconciliation, but so far his activities have created problems between Thailand and Cambodia," he said.

On ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's interview with The Times, in which he commented on the monarchy, Mr Abhisit said the tape of Thaksin's interview should be examined and then officials could decide whether to take legal action against him.

12/11/09
Bangkok Post

More than 100 MPs of the opposition Puea Thai Party, mostly from the Northeast, will go to Phnom Penh to see fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday, party MP for Chiang Mai Surapong Towichakchaikul said.

“The MPs want to meet the former premier to show him their support,” Mr Surapong said.

He said Thaksin will leave for Dubai on Saturday.

Suchart Lainamngern, MP for Lop Buri, said the MPs will travel in a group to make their intentions clear to the government. Some MPs plan to drink with their former party leader on Friday night until dawn before seeing him off to Dubai on Saturday morning, he said.