12/13/2009
SOPHENG CHEANG
The Associated Press
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
(AP) — PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Thailand's fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia on Sunday where he met a Thai airline employee convicted of spying on the toppled leader.
Thaksin's visit, the second in less than a month, is certain to further stoke tensions between the neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni pardoned Siwarak Chothipong, 31, Friday, three days after he was sentenced to seven years in prison for spying on Thaksin. He will be released Monday.
Thaksin was driven from the airport straight to Prey Sar prison, where Siwarak is being held. Local radio stations said some 300 special forces troops were deployed along the path of his motorcade and around the prison compound.
Thaksin met briefly with Siriwak, asking about his health and who ordered him to carry out the spying, according to the prisoner's lawyer Khieu Sambo.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, played a role in winning the man's freedom by calling Cambodia's prime minister and asking for leniency, according to government spokesman Khieu Kanharith.
The conviction followed Cambodia's decision last month to name Thaksin, a fugitive from justice in Thailand, as its special economic adviser. The appointment and Thaksin's subsequent visit to Cambodia angered the government in Bangkok and resulted in a recall of ambassadors from both sides.
Siwarak, an employee of the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, which manages flights in the country, was found guilty of stealing Thaksin's flight schedule and sending it to the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh. He was charged with stealing information that could impact national security.
There is widespread suspicion in Thailand that the case was orchestrated to allow Thaksin to step in behind-the-scenes to secure Siwarak's royal pardon-a move that would promote Thaksin's image among his supporters back home and embarrass the Thai government, which has tense relations with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Siwarak's mother and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, leader of the Thaksin-linked opposition party in Thailand, submitted a written request for the pardon to Hun Sen, who forwarded it to the king, Khieu Kanharith said. Thaksin spoke to Hun Sen by telephone to request the pardon, he said.
The prisoner's mother and members of Chavalit's party are scheduled to meet with Hun Sen Monday.
Thaksin served as prime minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was ousted in a military coup after being accused of corruption and showing disrespect to the monarchy.
He fled into self-imposed exile last year before a Thai court found him guilty of violating a conflict of interest law and sentenced him to two years in prison.
Thaksin's supporters and opponents have repeatedly taken to the streets since 2006 to spar over who has the right to rule the country, sometimes sparking violence.
Thaksin's earlier visit to Cambodia led to allegations he was trying to ignite a new political crisis from across the border.
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