usted Thai premier Thaksin arrives in Cambodian capital

BANGKOK, Nov 10 (TNA) – Ousted convicted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday arrived in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, to lecture hundreds of Cambodian economists on his first assignment as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

The Associated Press (AP) news agency quoted Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith as saying that Mr Thaksin flew into Phnom Penh Tuesday but gave no further details.

Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Kuoy Kong was quoted by the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) as saying “We (Cambodia) will not extradite him (Thaksin). We already clarified this case because he is a political victim.”

Mr Thaksin, ousted in bloodless coup in September 2006, was sentenced by Thailand’s Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to a two-year prison term in absentia for having a conflict of interest in Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek land purchase case. However he jumped bail and fled the country.

The ousted Thai premier’s visit to Phnom Penh came after the Cambodian government appointed him economic adviser to the government. He is also personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Mr Thaksin is scheduled to lecture over 300 Cambodian economists at Cambodia’s finance ministry on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuangsuban stood firm in its stance Tuesday that Thailand will seek to extradite Mr Thaksin if he enters the neighbouring country.

“We will proceed the extradition procedure according to the law and diplomatic protocol which the Thai Foreign Ministry has prepared,”  Mr Suthep said. “If the Cambodian government rejects our request, the Thai government will consider the next move.”

Mr Suthep also gave reassurances that Thailand would not close its border and that people along the Thai-Cambodian border can live their lives normally, but the security agencies will have to protect the sovereignty of Thailand and not allow any intrusion into Thai soil.

Tensions between the two neighbouring kingdoms flared up after the Cambodian government appointed the convicted ex-Thai premier as its economic adviser and announced that it will not extradite Mr Thaksin if requested by Thailand.

Thailand carried out its first retaliatory move against Cambodia by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh and reviewing cooperation with Cambodia.

The Cambodian government however ignored Thailand’s stance, and recalled its ambassador to Bangkok as a reciprocal action and invited Mr Thaksin to Phnom Penh to lecture this week. (TNA)