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10/11/2009
Bangkok Post

The government has no plan to close border checkpoints with Cambodia as they are also trading areas for people of both countries, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Tuesday morning.

“As I am in charge of national security, I will do my best to ensure that Thai people living along the border can continue their daily lives as normal,” Mr Suthep said, adding that he will also protect the country’s sovereignty.

The deputy premier said he had no idea whether ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had arrived in Phnom Penh, but if he ever learns he is there he would ask his Cambodian counterpart to approve the fugitive politician's extradition.

Mr Suthep said he believed Thaksin wants to use Cambodia as a political base to hurt Thailand. He hoped Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen would not allow that to happen.

He said he had made no decision yet on whether to contact Mr Hun Sen directly on the matter.