Written by DAP NEWS -- Friday, 23 October 2009
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
Following Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s offer of a welcome for self-exiled former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra, rumors were swirling that he would visit Cambodia. Thai leaders said he would be extradited from Cambodia to be jailed in Thailand.
A senior security official in Thailand said Thursday that Thaksin planned to visit Cambodia, according to the Nation newspaper.
Convicted ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra reportedly planned to visit Phnom Penh, a senior security official said Thursday, the Nation reported.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will offer a new house in Camb- odia to Thaksin 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.
However, Cambodia’s cozying up to Thaksin has raised the hackles of some Thais. Suthep, a Thai deputy prime minister, noted Cambodia and Thailand have an extradition agreement, which he said will be enforced to apprehend Thaksin and return him to Thailand to serve a two-year jail term. “I am not surprised about friendship between Hun Sen and Thaksin but Thailand will make the extradition request if Thaksin is provided with a permanent shelter in Cambodia,” Suthep told the Nation.
Deputy Cambodian Prime Minister Hor Namhong said that Cambodia is merely continuing a long relationship.
“It is a right of the Premier Hun Sen to meet his old friend, Chavalit, and also the Phuea Thai Party born from the Thai Rak Thai Party, which is an old partner with the Cambodia People’s Party [CPP],” Hor Namhong told reporters at Foreign Minister after Cambodia and Korean leaders signed an agreement at the Foreign Ministry.
Thaksin thanked Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen in his twitter feed for welcoming him to the country and having offering to build a home for him.
“I have to express deepest thanks to Prime Minister Hun Sen for saying in public that I am his friend. I also would like to thank him for arranging me a house,” Thaksin said on twitter.
Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, leader-in-waiting of Thailand’s opposition Puea Thai Party, has already visited Phnom Penh at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
“The two parties will discuss bilaterally to promote and strengthen between Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and Puea Thai Party leaders,” a high-ranking Cambodian Government official told DAP News Cambodia.
The Cambodian PM suggested the establishment of a working group. 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.
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.
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