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12/11/09
Bangkok Post

The government will review its cooperation with Cambodia after Phnom Penh refused to give up fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Cambodia yesterday rejected a request from Thailand for the extradition of Thaksin, who arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday to take up his posting as adviser to the prime minister and the government.

The two countries have an extradition agreement but Cambodia claims Thaksin is a victim of politics and will not be returned.

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, led by minister of the Thai embassy Chalotorn Phaovihul, yesterday submitted a provisional arrest and extradition request to Cambodia's Foreign Ministry.

The ministry handed back the document with a note denying the request.

"This response letter is enough to tell the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Thailand that there will be no extradition," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said at a televised news conference with Thaksin in Phnom Penh.

"Some leaders have been toppled during times of provocation but Thaksin was toppled during a time when he was on a mission for his nation.

"So he is a political victim of the coup d'etat of 19 September, 2006."

The government said it would review its agreements with Cambodia in protest against Phnom Penh's refusal, but insisted the dispute could be kept at the bilateral level. Nor would it lead to violence.

"It is a regret that Cambodia does not follow international practice [by returning Thaksin]. We feel compelled to review cooperation pacts in addition to those which were reconsidered by the cabinet on Nov 10," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.

Thaksin is in the Cambodian capital to give a speech today to economists. Hun Sen last week appointed him as an economic adviser. The appointment soured relations with Thailand, which wants Thaksin returned to serve a jail term for corruption. The Supreme Court last year sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail for conflict of interest in the 2003 Ratchadaphisek property deal.

Both Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors after Thaksin's appointment as adviser was announced last week, The dispute escalated further when the government cancelled a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia concerning an overlapping maritime area in the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Abhisit said the Foreign Ministry would shortlist cooperation programmes that could be reviewed.

Thailand would make sure any new conflicts were contained and solved at the bilateral level, to avoid affecting ties at the Asean level.

The memo calls for settlement of a disputed maritime territory and a joint development plan. The government's decision to withdraw still needs the backing of parliament.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said in Singapore the review would cover assistance schemes which would affect people in both countries. However, Bangkok would honour an agreement to send Cambodian prisoners in Thai jails back to Phnom Penh, he said.

Mr Abhisit said he wanted Thai-Cambodian relations to return to normal but Phnom Penh's political stance was inappropriate and contrary to international practice.

Thailand would not resort to force or close its border to show its displeasure as that would affect people along the border, he said.

Almost 100 Puea Thai Party MPs have registered for a trip to Cambodia to visit Thaksin, who is expected to stay in Phnom Penh until Saturday. They plan to leave for Cambodia tomorrow. Yaowapa Wongsawat, Thaksin's sister, is organising the trip.