Thai PM pushes for caution on allegations

via CAAI

Friday, 15 October 2010 15:02 Cheang Sokha

THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva advised Thai security forces to be more cautious in making claims in the media about their work, Thai news outlets reported yesterday.

The call came after a member of Thailand’s department of special investigation reportedly claimed on Monday that 11 antigovernment Red Shirt activists arrested in Thailand earlier this month had received weapons training in Cambodia in a bid to assassinate Abhisit and other Thai officials.

“Giving a public statement over the issue requires extra caution,” Abhisit said, according to The Nation newspaper.

“Prime Minister Hun Sen has confirmed to me that Cambodian authorities had not been involved in any weapons training, and if the probes discover anything [otherwise], everything will be discussed directly.”

Hun Sen said onWednesday that he and Abhisit had communicated by text message on the issue, and that he had vigorously denied the allegations.

Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said in an email yesterday that Thailand would forward the results of the DSI investigation to Cambodia if necessary.

“Once the [Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs] receives information regarding Cambodia from the DSI, then we [will] seek Cambodia’s assistance in looking into the issue,” Thani said.

Ministry of Defence spokesman Chhum Socheat said yesterday that the situation along the countries’ contentious border was “normal” because Cambodian forces were aware that the information was “made up”.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JAMES O’TOOLE