Cambodian PM lambasts ASEAN secretary general

http://news.asiaone.com/

via CAAI News Media

Mon, Mar 08, 2010

AFP

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodian premier Hun Sen on Monday said the head of Southeast Asia's regional body was unsuitable for the job, accusing him of "crazy work" for reportedly questioning a recent rocket drill.

Hun Sen was responding to comments printed in local newspapers attributed to Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary-general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and a citizen of Thailand, with which Cambodia has tense relations.

"I think that his excellency Surin Pitsuwan is not suitable as ASEAN secretary general," Hun Said said during a speech on national radio, adding: "if you are stupid, don't do it".

Cambodian newspapers carried reports by Malaysia's Bernama news agency quoting Surin as saying that

"Cambodia might have signaled as though the region was unstable" by firing rockets last week during a border dispute with Thailand.

But Hun Sen said Cambodian troops were merely testing equipment when they fired some 200 rockets last Thursday at an airfield 180 kilometres (about 110 miles) from the Thai border.

His speech to disabled Cambodian military veterans in southern Kampot province went on to accuse Surin of "crazy work" interfering in Cambodian affairs.

The premier pointed out that leaders of other Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, showed no concerns about the test, and called for Surin to retract his statement or face a confrontation when leaders meet next month in Hanoi.

"If he doesn't make a correction I will attack this secretary general during the ASEAN meeting," Hun Sen said.

Addressing Surin directly in the speech, he added: "You must make a correction... The rockets did not hit your head."

Hun Sen has recently made a number of fiery speeches railing against Thai "invaders" and "thieves" in disputed territory around an 11th century temple on their border, where there have been deadly clashes in the past two years.

Cambodia and Thailand have been locked in nationalist tensions and a troop standoff at their disputed border since July 2008, when Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

Four soldiers were killed in clashes in the temple area in 2008 and three more in a gunbattle last April. Smaller flare-ups continue to be reported between troops in the area.