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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