via CAAI
Oct 11, 2010
Phnom Penh - The Cambodian government on Monday denied that members of a Thai insurgent group had received military training from Cambodian government forces.
Thailand's Department of Special Investigations claimed that 39 anti-government militants received weapons training at a Cambodian army camp.
Thai authorities also claimed the so-called red shirts had been trained to carry out assassinations on key public figures, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan denied the allegations.
'It's made up. Our constitution does not allow anyone to do that sort of thing [on Cambodian soil],' Phay Siphan said. 'Nobody is allowed to do any such stupid thing in Cambodia.'
He said recent meetings between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Abhisit in the United States and Brussels were evidence of Cambodia's good intentions to improve relations.
'So I think this accusation is a made-up story to blame Cambodia, and is also [part of the] campaign against the red shirts, using Cambodia as a springboard for Thai local politics,' he said.
'It is a nonsense for Cambodia to foster [trouble] with anyone,' he said.
Thai news outlets quoted Lieutenant Colonel Payao Thongsen as saying that 11 activists arrested recently had confessed to receiving training in Cambodia. He said 28 others had also taken part.
Relations between the neighbours have been tense for more than two years with sporadic clashes between troops over disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple on Cambodia's northern border.
Diplomatic relations improved in August after Thailand's fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who has close links to the red shirt movement, resigned from two advisory positions he had held with Phnom Penh since late 2009.
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