PM asked to replace foreign minister to restore ties with Cambodia

BANGKOK, 13 December 2009 (NNT) – The Opposition Puea Thai Party has once again asked Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to revise the foreign policy and replace Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya in a bid to restore relationship with the neighboring country of Cambodia.

The convicted Thai engineer Siwarak Chutipong has been granted a royal pardon for his espionage charge after supplying flight information of Mr Thaksin Shinawatra, the self-exiled former Thai Prime Minister and the current Advisor to Cambodian Government. Mr Siwarak will be released and is scheduled to arrive in Thailand on 14 December 2009.

Upon the release of the engineer, Puea Thai Spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, stated that this would be a good opportunity for the Abhisit-led government to restore its diplomatic relationship with Cambodia. He stressed that Mr Kasit should be sacked while the foreign policy of Thailand should be revised for the sake of trade between the two countries.

The ties with Cambodia have turned sour due to many recent diplomatic encounters. The Opposition Puea Thai Party has been urging the prime minister to axe Mr Kasit for his involvement in the seizure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) late last year.