Hun Sen Offers House in Cambodia for Thaksin

Written by DAP NEWS -- Thursday, 22 October 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media) 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will offer a new house to the self-exiled former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra if he wants to pay a visit to Cambodia, according to a high-ranking Cambodian Government official.

The premier’s remarks follow a visit from former Thai Prime Minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, who is very close to Thaksin and visited Cambodia.

Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, leader-in-waiting of Thailand’s opposition Puea Thai Party, is visiting Phnom Penh at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, a high ranking official of the government official told DAP News Cambodia on Wednesday.

“The two parties discuss bilaterally to promote and strengthen between Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and Puea Thai Party leaders,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the premier requested to establish a working group to cooperate with Cambodian Minister of Defense Tea Banh, also a deputy prime minister, will be assigned as a leader of the above working group. A high-ranking military official from the Puea Thai Party will be another leader of the group.

“Premier Hun Sen also urged red shirts to support the party,” the official confirmed.

Some analysts asked if cooperation between the premier Hun Sen and Chavalit Yongchaiyuth could be a bid the add further pressure to the Thai Government led by Abhisit, which was elected by a coup back by factions of the Thai army. The Government is unworried by Puea Thai core member Chavalit Yongchaiyudh’s plan to meet Cambo- dian Prime Minister Hun Sen during his visit to Phnom Penh, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was quoted as Wednesday’s Bangkok Post as saying. Suthep said the former prime minister, who joined the opposition Puea Thai Party earlier this month, would not do anything to harm the country.

“Gen Chavalit’s visit to Cambodia is not considered disrespectful to the government. To the contrary, if his visit proves to be in the country’s best interests we would have to thank him,” Suthep was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post.

The deputy prime minister, who is in charge of security affairs, said he had met Prime Minister Hun Sen several times and received “positive cooperation” from the Cambodian Government.

Asked if Gen Chavalit could travel to Cambodia to meet fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Suthep said the Thai Government was not keeping tabs on Gen Chavalit.