via CAAI News Media
BANGKOK, March 4 (TNA, Agencies) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday said the test of a multiple-military rocket launcher in Cambodia an internal concern of the government in Phnom Penh and that Thailand has no problem with the test.
The Cambodian defence minister said some 200 projectiles from the Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher were fired in the mountains of remote Kampong Chhnang province, some 50 miles (80 km) north of the capital Phnom Penh.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was quoted by international media as saying that the exercise was "not about showing any military muscle", even though he is at loggerheads with the Thai government, but said it was to prepare for the defence of his country.
Mr Abhisit said the planned exercise was notified in advance and he has discussed the matter with Thailand's top military brass.
"I don't believe the test is intended to threaten the Thai military as I understand that it is a normal military exercise," Mr Abhisit said, stating that the Cambodian military drill was unrelated to the current political situation in Thailand.
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have worsened since the Cambodian prime minister appointed Thailand's ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser last year and refused to extradite him to Thailand to serve his two-year jail term for violating the law on
conflict of interest.
The anti-government "Red Shirts" led by the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced a planned mass rally in Bangkok on March 14 to protest what they accused of a double standard in Thailand's judiciary.
Thailand's Supreme Court ruled last Friday that Mr Thaksin had illegally concealed his ownership of stock in Shin Corp, the family's telecommunications empire, and abused his authority during his two terms in office, from 2001-2006, to benefit Shin Corp businesses.
The Court also ordered the seizure of Bt46.373 billion (US$1.4 billion) out of Bt76.6 billion ($2.29 billion) in frozen assets of the Shinawatra family. (TNA, Agencies)
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