Thailand must implement the MoUs on gas and oil development and maritime boundary demarcation agreed with Cambodia as part of its international obligations, Var Kim Hong, Cambodian head of the Joint Border Committee (JBC), said on Tuesday.
Thailand cannot cancel or back out of the MoU signed in 2001 with Cambodia “because MoU is the tool of international legal procedures,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Council of Ministers. Thailand must abide by international law, he said.
Thailand may only amend its MoUs with Cambodia as the MoUs are “the heritage of previous Govern- ment,” signed between Cambodia and Thailand under the Thaksin Govern- ment, he added. The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday revoked an MoU on overlapping maritime boundaries agreed and signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001, the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported. The Cabinet directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review the legal issues as the revocation of the MoU must be forwarded to Parliament for its consideration under Article 190 of the Thai Cons-titution, which requires the Govern-ment to seek approval from Parliament before signing an agreement with another country. Certain renegade factions of Thai extreme nationalists have already mistakenly attempted to request the withdrawal of Cambo- dia’s UNESCO registration for the Khmer Preah Vihear temple. Now the tactic seems to have crossed into the mainstream.
The Thai Cabinet has apparently discussed the action with several agencies including the Office of the Council of State, the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and the ministry’s Department of Treaty and Legal Affairs, before making the decision. Thai-Cambo- dian relations have soured over border issues and Thaksin’s appointment as Cambodian Government and economic advisor to PM Hun Sen last week. Thailand recalled its ambassador from Cambodia, with Cambodia subsequently doing likewise.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Thaksin Lands Phnom Penh Amid Tightened Security
Former fugitive Thai PM Thaksin Sinawatra on Tuesday morning landed at a Phnom Penh military airport.
Tight security with many soldiers and police deployed ensured a safe arrival for Thaksin.
Hing Bun Heang, the Royal Government of Cambodia Air Forces (RCAF) Deputy Chief and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen’s body guard headquarter chief and Prak Sokhun, Secretary of Stare of the Council for Ministers along with the Premier’s oldest son, Hun Maneth accompanied by high ranking soldiers and police.
Thaksin’s arrival in Cambodia come after the Cambodian King endorsed him as advisor to the Government and the premier’s economic advisor. Thaksin’s presence will be his first visit to Cambodia after he was ousted by a military coup in September, 2006. He has previously visited Siem Reap province to play goal with PM Hun Sen.
Following Thaksin’s arrival in Cambodia, Bangkok leaders are said to be focusing on seeking to extradite Thaksin from Cambodia, but the Cambodian Government has already stressed it will not extradite Thaksin from Thailand. “Thaksin will visit Phnom Penh this week and he is to lecture over 300 Cambodian economists at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Thursday,” the premier told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport after he returned from Tokyo.
Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before being toppled in a bloodless coup, faces a two-year jail sentence in Thailand for abuse of power. He has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai, since August 2008.
Thaksin was overthrown after he lost the backing of Thailand’s Bang kok-based middle class and political elite. He remains popular with the poor because of his populist economic policies.
Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Phnom Penh last week after the Cambodian government announced Thaksin’s appointment. Cambodia reciprocated by recalling its ambassador as ties between the neighbors hit their lowest point in years.
Tight security with many soldiers and police deployed ensured a safe arrival for Thaksin.
Hing Bun Heang, the Royal Government of Cambodia Air Forces (RCAF) Deputy Chief and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen’s body guard headquarter chief and Prak Sokhun, Secretary of Stare of the Council for Ministers along with the Premier’s oldest son, Hun Maneth accompanied by high ranking soldiers and police.
Thaksin’s arrival in Cambodia come after the Cambodian King endorsed him as advisor to the Government and the premier’s economic advisor. Thaksin’s presence will be his first visit to Cambodia after he was ousted by a military coup in September, 2006. He has previously visited Siem Reap province to play goal with PM Hun Sen.
Following Thaksin’s arrival in Cambodia, Bangkok leaders are said to be focusing on seeking to extradite Thaksin from Cambodia, but the Cambodian Government has already stressed it will not extradite Thaksin from Thailand. “Thaksin will visit Phnom Penh this week and he is to lecture over 300 Cambodian economists at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Thursday,” the premier told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport after he returned from Tokyo.
Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before being toppled in a bloodless coup, faces a two-year jail sentence in Thailand for abuse of power. He has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai, since August 2008.
Thaksin was overthrown after he lost the backing of Thailand’s Bang kok-based middle class and political elite. He remains popular with the poor because of his populist economic policies.
Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Phnom Penh last week after the Cambodian government announced Thaksin’s appointment. Cambodia reciprocated by recalling its ambassador as ties between the neighbors hit their lowest point in years.
Cambodia Refuses to Extradite Thaksin
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wedn- esday stressed that his Government had already rejected an extradition request for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra because is Thaksin is now an economic adviser to himself and the Government, an appointment approved by the Cambodian king. Bangkok sent a formal extradition letter to the Cambodian Foreign Ministry yesterday.
Speaking to report- ers at a press conference at his house in Takmao after his talks with Thaksin lasting around one-and-a-half hours, Hun Sen read out a statement detailing why the Cambodian Foreign Ministry had handed back Thai documents submitted to seek Thaksin’s extradition.
Thaksin was also present at the press conference.
Thaksin appeared in Phnom Penh after arriving at a military airstrip in his own jet on Tuesday.
Hun Sen showed the Cambodian refusal of the Thai extradition letter in front of Thaksin and handed out a copy of the statement to Thaksin detailing Cambodia’s stance not to extradite Thaksin.
The Cambodian Government referred to Article 3 of the Extraction treaty between the two countries which prohibits extraditing a person for a political offence.
Thaksin said that he understood the extradition request, but he declined to do into the details of his case.
Hun Sen stressed Thaksin’s competency to lead his country during his term as Thai Prime Minister.
The premier claimed a relationship between the ruling Thai Prime Minister Abhisits’ party and Cambo- dia’s eponymous opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Referring to a rumor that the Thai Government will appoint Sam Rainsy as an advisor, the premier said he welcomed the right of a Cambodian to become a Bangkok Government advisor. Thaksin’s said his intention is to develop Thailand and help all Thais.
Asked how he will help and develop Cambodia as Cambodia suffers the effects of the downturn, Thaksin said: “Firstly, I am going to share some economic ideas to Cambodian Government economic officials to provide more understanding in this field. Secondly, I am trying to help reduce poverty in Cambodia by using my policy implemented Thailand when I was the premier. Lastly, I will attract more investors to do business and invest in Cambodia, and provide confidence to those investors.”
Thaksin said that helping Cambo- dia become developed will also benefit Thailand.
Tight security, with many soldiers and police deployed, ensured a safe arrival for Thaksin.
Thaksin’s arrival in Cambodia comes after the Cambodian King endorsed him as advisor to the Government and the premier’s economic advisor. Thaksin’s presence will be his first visit to Cambodia after he was ousted by a military coup in Septe- mber, 2006. He has previously visited Siem Reap province to play goal with PM Hun Sen.
Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Phnom Penh last week after the Cambodian government announced Thaksin’s appointment. Cambodia reciprocated by recalling its ambassador as ties between the neighbors hit their lowest point in years. Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before being toppled in a bloodless coup, faces a two-year jail sentence in Thailand for abuse of power. He has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai, since August 2008.
Thaksin was overthrown after he lost the backing of Thailand’s Bangkok -based middle class and political elite. He remains popular with the poor because of his populist economic policies.
The ‘eternal friends’ speak
In a joint interview with Thaksin broadcast on state-run TVK television on Wednesday afternoon, Hun Sen spoke of the partnership between his Cambodian People’s Party and Puea Thai, a Thai opposition party with which Thaksin is associated. Hun Sen also alluded to this partnership when he met with Puea Thai’s Chavalit Yongchaiyudh last month.
“We have a party-to-party relationship between the CPP and Puea Thai, which was originally Thai Rak Thai,” Hun Sen said, referring to Thaksin’s former party.
“Now this party has transformed itself into Puea Thai, but this party relationship continues. The leaders of the CPP and the leaders of Puea Thai can meet each other at any time, at any place, and can even hold a summit meeting together.”
Even as he threw his support behind the Thai opposition, however, Hun Sen dismissed the possibility that the recent row with Thailand could escalating into armed conflict, characterising it as a dispute between politicians rather than populations.
“It is a dispute between Abhisit and Hun Sen,” he said, adding: “If there is a dispute between people and people, how could Thaksin and I be talking together? He is also a Thai.”
In the same interview, Thaksin defended his acceptance of the advisory role and accused the Thai administration of holding a “Cold War” mindset in its antagonism towards him and the Cambodian government.
“Whatever I say, the [Thai] government will be against, so actually, in this 21st century, we should have some dialogue,” Thaksin said, adding: “If I can help, it will be beneficial to Cambodia and to Thai people as well.”
Extradition of Thaksin shot down
CAMBODIA rejected a formal request by the Thai government on Wednesday for the extradition of visiting Thai ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who faces a two-year prison term in Thailand after being convicted of corruption in absentia in 2008.
In a statement reiterating a promise the government has made repeatedly over the past few weeks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would not extradite Thaksin, who was deposed in a 2006 coup and self-exiled last year to avoid imprisonment in Thailand for the “politically motivated” corruption conviction.
“The condemnation of HE Thaksin Shinawatra is logically the consequence of the military coup d’etat in September 2006, which resulted in his removal from the post of prime minister, while he was overwhelmingly and democratically elected by the Thai people,” the statement read.
In Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva condemned the Cambodian refusal to extradite Thaksin.
“My government wants bilateral ties to be normal, but Cambodia’s political standpoint is incorrect, inappropriate and against international principles,” Abhisit said.
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said Thailand was weighing its options after the rejection.
“We have received a copy of the diplomatic note that the Cambodian side has sent to us, and at the moment, our legal people are examining the details and the contents of the letter,” Thani said, adding that the Thai legal team would make a policy recommendation for the government to consider.
Abhisit has threatened to terminate the extradition agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in the event that a request for Thaksin is denied, though Thani said that his government has not yet settled on a response.
“I think a review of all the agreements that we have is being examined. I don’t want to prejudge what the outcome of that review will be,” he said.
Last week, Thaksin was officially appointed economics adviser to the Cambodian government and personal adviser to Hun Sen. In response, Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Phnom Penh, and Cambodia responded in kind.
Thaksin accuses Abhisit government of 'false patriotism'
Thailand's current leadership is guilty of “false patriotism”, fugitive ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra told an audience in Phnom Penh on Thursday.
Speaking in his new capacity as economics adviser to the Cambodian government, Thaksin stressed the need for cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia as he told a gathering at the Ministry of Economy and Finance that the two countries’ economic fortunes are inextricably tied, adding: “Of course, not all my compatriots see it that way right now.”
“I do not believe those who do not share our vision right now are myopic. Their domestic political compulsions force them to false patriotism. Let's pray that they, too, will one day appreciate this partnership for the best,” he said.
Thaksin was deposed in a 2006 coup and self-exiled last year to avoid a jail term for corruption charges. His remarks came just one day after Cambodia denied an extradition request for him by Thailand – the latest move a row that saw the countries withdraw their respective ambassadors last week
In the conference’s opening address, Minister of Finance Keat Chhon said Thaksin’s tenure as prime minister “is generally agreed to have been one of the most distinctive in the country’s modern history”. The finance minister praised policies of Thaksin that were designed to appeal to his country’s “rural majority”, including micro-credit development and subsidised healthcare.
“Whatever the critics say about Thaksinomics, the achievements were astonishing,” Keat Chhon said.
Thaksin and Keat Chhon were speaking at a conference titled “Cambodia and the World After Financial Crisis”, attended by about 300 economics experts and members of the business community.
Security at the conference was heavy, with members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s personal body guard unit providing protection for Thaksin. Reporters were ushered out of the conference hall minutes after Thaksin began speaking.
Speaking in his new capacity as economics adviser to the Cambodian government, Thaksin stressed the need for cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia as he told a gathering at the Ministry of Economy and Finance that the two countries’ economic fortunes are inextricably tied, adding: “Of course, not all my compatriots see it that way right now.”
“I do not believe those who do not share our vision right now are myopic. Their domestic political compulsions force them to false patriotism. Let's pray that they, too, will one day appreciate this partnership for the best,” he said.
Thaksin was deposed in a 2006 coup and self-exiled last year to avoid a jail term for corruption charges. His remarks came just one day after Cambodia denied an extradition request for him by Thailand – the latest move a row that saw the countries withdraw their respective ambassadors last week
In the conference’s opening address, Minister of Finance Keat Chhon said Thaksin’s tenure as prime minister “is generally agreed to have been one of the most distinctive in the country’s modern history”. The finance minister praised policies of Thaksin that were designed to appeal to his country’s “rural majority”, including micro-credit development and subsidised healthcare.
“Whatever the critics say about Thaksinomics, the achievements were astonishing,” Keat Chhon said.
Thaksin and Keat Chhon were speaking at a conference titled “Cambodia and the World After Financial Crisis”, attended by about 300 economics experts and members of the business community.
Security at the conference was heavy, with members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s personal body guard unit providing protection for Thaksin. Reporters were ushered out of the conference hall minutes after Thaksin began speaking.
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