Thai govt check report that Cambodia closed waters

Mon, November 23, 2009

(CAAI News Media)

Thai government on Monday assigns authorities concerned to check Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's claim that Cambodia closed territorial waters for Thai fishing boats.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he just learnt of Chavalit's claim.

"Authorities concerned are checking accuracy of the report," Suthep said.

Chavalit earlier told reporters that Cambodia's waters were sealed off for unknown reason.

"I just learnt that Cambodia decided to seal off its territorial waters for Thai fishing boats. About 1,000 Thai boats had fished in the Khmer waters," he said.

He was not sure the reason of the closing. "It may cause by some conflicts. We should not make a speculation on the matter," Chavalit said.

Chavalit said the government will have to check the accuracy of the report.

Thailand and Cambodia have been in conflicts for weeks after the latter's appointment of ex-Thai Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Khmer PM and his government.

During Thaksin's visit to Phnom Penh last week, Cambodia expelled Thai first secretary of the embassy and arrested a Thai engineer working in Phnom Penh on charge of spying.

Referring to arrest of a Thai engineer, Chavalit said we should support the government which has tried its best to secure freedom of the engineer.

He will wait for the government's decision before looking into the matter.

Chavalit's Monday statement on the matter was opposite to what he said last week. Chavalit had said he would fly to Phnom Penh to pick up the engineer as he was expected to be freed after ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra stepped in by talking with Khmer PM Hun Sen.