Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) greets former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra in Phnom Penh. Thaksin has arrived in Cambodia to start work as a government economic adviser, fuelling tensions between the two countries after a series of border clashes. (AFP/PM Office/File/Prime Minister Office)
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
PHNOM PENH (AFP) – Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia to start work as a government economic adviser Tuesday, fuelling tensions between the two countries after a series of border clashes.
Thailand vowed to seek the extradition of the fugitive billionaire -- who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006 and is living abroad to avoid corruption charges -- but Cambodia said it would refuse any request.
The row has plunged relations between the neighbouring nations to their lowest for years and threatens to cloud weekend talks between Southeast Asian leaders and US President Barack Obama.
Thaksin landed in a private jet at Phnom Penh International Airport and was escorted into the capital by a convoy of cars under tight security early Tuesday, said an AFP photographer. Related article: Thaksin visit could push Thailand and Cambodia to war: analysts
"Thaksin is here for the economy and no activities related to politics. It is an honour for Cambodia's economic sector and we hope that Cambodians nationwide welcome him warmly," Cambodian cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan said.
Thaksin is due to address 300 Cambodian economics experts in Phnom Penh on Thursday in his first engagement in his new post.
Phay Siphan said Thaksin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen -- who are close friends and occasional golf partners -- shared a welcoming lunch, and then Thaiksin was expected to stay for "two or three days".
Thaksin confirmed on his official Twitter account that he had arrived in Phnom Penh, adding that he was "really homesick".
"Tonight I will dine with Prime Minister Hun Sen and his family. I want to reiterate that nation, religion and monarchy are always in my mind," Thaksin wrote.
Thailand and Cambodia recalled their respective ambassadors last week in the escalating row over Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon and the former owner of Manchester City Football Club.
He won two elections and remains a massively influential figure in Thai politics, stirring up mass protests by so-called "Red Shirt" supporters against the government.
His presence on Thailand's doorstep is the closest he has come since he last left the kingdom in August 2008, a move that is likely to alarm the shaky government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia remain high following recent deadly skirmishes on their disputed border near Cambodia's 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2008.
Abhisit said Thailand would review its extradition treaty with Cambodia if it failed to comply with Bangkok's request.
The Thai foreign ministry said that it was sending the extradition request to the embassy in Phnom Penh late Tuesday and expected to hand the documents to Cambodian officials on Wednesday.
Thailand's cabinet also agreed to cancel an oil and gas exploration deal with Cambodia that was signed during Thaksin's time in power.
Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong rejected the extradition threat. "We will not extradite him. We already clarified this case because he is a political victim," Koy Kuong said.
Thailand stepped up pressure on Thaksin Monday, accusing him of "violating" the country's revered monarchy after he was quoted in an interview as calling for the reform of royal institutions.
The country's royalist "Yellow Shirt" group, which helped bring down Thaksin in 2006 and blockaded Bangkok's airports to oust his allies last year, said it would stage a mass anti-Thaksin protest in Bangkok on Sunday.
The visit comes just days before Abhisit is due to chair a summit in Singapore between Obama and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), also Sunday.
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said the Thai-Cambodia row worried ASEAN members.
"We are very concerned about this bilateral problem between two fraternal members of ASEAN and we hope they will find a way to reconcile and to act with restraint," Yeo said.
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