Opposition meets Thaksin

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) talks with supporters as ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra looks on. -- PHOTO: AP

Nov 13, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

SIEM REAP - SCORES of Thai opposition politicians poured into Cambodia on Friday to meet their fugitive leader, raising the prospect of a more aggressive push to topple the Thai government.

Supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra headed to the Cambodian town of Siem Reap to meet the former telecoms billionaire, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and later convicted of graft in absentia and sentenced to two years in prison.

Thaksin has created a makeshift political headquarters, complete with high-tech office equipment, in a hotel restaurant in Siem Reap, home to Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex and just about 150km (90 miles) from Thailand.

Although he was expected to fly on Saturday to Dubai, where he spends most of his time in self-imposed exile, the alliance between Thaksin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is stoking concern in Bangkok about a push by Thaksin to regain power.

'Effectively, Hun Sen has now allowed Thaksin to use Cambodia as a base of operations to operate against the Thai government. That's not good,' said Thai Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

Thaksin was seen with about 20 supporters. Another 60 had crossed into Cambodia and about 20 were on the way to the border, said Surapong Towichakchaikul, a member of the Puea Thai Party, latest incarnation of Thaksin's disbanded Thai Rak Thai party. -- REUTERS