(Posted by CAAI News Media)
The government recalled its ambassador to Cambodia on Thursday after Phnom Penh gave a job to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, further raising tensions between the countries.
The Cambodian government announced on Wednesday night it had appointed Thaksin an economic adviser, riling Bangkok, which is trying to bring Thaksin home to serve a two year jail sentence handed down by the Supreme Court, three years after he was ousted in a coup.
"We have recalled the ambassador as the first diplomatic retaliation to let the Cambodian government know the dissatisfaction of the Thai people," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.
"Last night's announcement by the Cambodian government was harmful to the Thai judicial system and really affected Thai public sentiment," Mr Abhisit said.
He said aid to Cambodia would also be halted, but checkpoints along the border between the two countries would remain open.; Ordinary commerce between Thai and Camvodian people would not be affected.
A government official said earlier that the ambassador to Phnom Penh would be recalled by Thursday evening in retaliation for Cambodia's "interference" in Thai politics.
"The reason is that the appointment of Thaksin is considered interfering in our internal politics because Thaksin is still actively involved in politics," Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thailand's foreign affairs minister, told AFP.
Democrat Party spokesman Thepthai Senpong said Thaksin's new job with the Cambodian government was no more than a consolation gift from a friend.
Mr Thepthai said he did not think Thaksin would actually do anything.
It was an internal matter for the Cambodoian government and the Thai government would not try to interfere.
However, if Thaksin happened to stay in Cambodia, the government would have to seek his extradition, he said.
Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnveerakul said Thaksin's appointment would be unlikely to affect the Thai economy.
"Even if he were not economic adviser to the Cambodian government, he would still try to get closer to Thailand," Mr Chavarat said.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said he was more worried about what damage Thaksin would inflict on the Cambodian economy.
Thaksin said on his that he felt honoured by the appointment and thanked Prime Minister Hun Sen.
“I have just received a copy of King Sihamoni’s royal appointment from Mr Hun Sen. I thank Mr Hun Sen for giving me such an honour. But I would have more enjoyment if I ccould work to eradicate Thai people’s poverty,” Thaksin tweeted on his twitter account on Thursday morning.
In a statement read on state television yesterday, the Cambodian government said all charges against Thaksin were “politically motivated”, and said it would not allow his extradition to Thailand if he decides to stay in Cambodia or travels in and out of Cambodia to fulfill his duties.
Noppadon Pattama, a former foreign minister and close associate of Thaksin, said Mr Hun Sen appointed Thaksin economic adviser because he could see his potential.
He rejected criticism that Thaksin had achieved his target strategy of a “world surrounding Thailand”. Mr Noppadon said the world would not surround Thailand and attack the Thai government, but the world would try to help resolve Thailand's problems.
Thaksin remains a hugely influential figure in Thailand, where he has stirred up mass protests by the so-called "Red Shirt" movement against Abhisit's government in the past year.
Ties between Cambodia and Thailand have been difficult since July 2008 amid an ongoing border conflict over land surrounding an 11th century temple which has claimed several lives.
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