Saturday, 14 November 2009

Cambodia not intend to expel more Thai diplomats: Cambodian official


2009-11-14

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia does not intend to expel more Thailand diplomats, an government official said here on Friday.

"Our government's stance so far is not purposed to expel other Thai diplomats," Koy Koung, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry told Xinhua. "But first secretary of royal Thai embassy to Cambodia really involved with spying in Cambodia. We have concrete evidence to show that Thai first secretary and a Thai man who was arrested recently by our police have spied here," Koy Koung added. Thai man will be sentenced by our court soon, he said.

Cambodian government on Thursday expelled a Thai diplomat, claiming that "he has performed his duty contrary to his diplomatic position."

Meanwhile, Thai side also expelled the Cambodian first secretary from its embassy in Bangkok.

Moreover, a Thai man named as Siwarak Chothipong for spelling in Khmer, 31, works as a engineer in CATS, was arrested on Wednesday by Cambodian police. It was said the Thai man spied through copying the letters of flights of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin in Cambodia and Prime Minister Hun Sen from CATS -- Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co Ltd which has duties to control all flights in country...and sent those reports to Thailand.

The tit-for-tat moves between the two countries came as Cambodia appointing ousted Thai former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser of Cambodian government and the Prime Minister Hun Sen on Nov. 4. Thailand recalled its ambassador on Nov. 5, and Cambodia followed suit.

Thaksin arrived here on Tuesday and give his first lecture on Thursday to 300 Cambodian economic experts at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup for alleged massive corruption and other charges. His supporters say he should be pardoned and returned to power. Since the coup, Thaksin has lived abroad to escape a corruption conviction and two-year prison sentence.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

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