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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