(Posted by CAAI News Media)
Martin Petty
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday offered fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra a job as economic adviser, a slap in the face to Thailand's rulers that could worsen a diplomatic row. Skip related content
The comments add to mounting friction between the neighbours that threatens to overshadow a summit of the 10-member Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) that began on Friday.
Thailand is seeking to extradite the twice-elected billionaire Thaksin, who is living in self-imposed exile in Dubai, to serve a jail term for corruption.
Thaksin in turn has infuriated Thailand's rulers by leading a red-shirted protest movement on Bangkok's streets, appearing frequently by video-link at mass anti-government rallies at the heart of a polarising four-year political crisis.
"Thaksin can stay in Cambodia as the guest of Cambodia and also be my guest as my advisor on our economy," Hun Sen said in a rare appearance before international journalists while attending a Southeast Asian leaders summit in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin.
He likened Thaksin to pro-democracy icon and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest or in jail in military-ruled Myanmar.
"People talk about Aung San Suu Kyi, why not talk about Thaksin?" said Hun Sen, who described the former telecommunications tycoon on Wednesday as an "eternal friend" who had a residence in neighbouring Cambodia waiting for him.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had tough words for Hun Sen, calling him "seriously misinformed" as the row threatened to overtake other issues at the ASEAN summit.
"I don't know how many people share his view that Thaksin is like Aung San Suu Kyi. I doubt there are many in the world, for obvious reasons," Abhisit told a news conference.
"I don't want him to be a victim or a pawn for someone who undermines the interests of this country," he added. "I'm sure when he's better informed, he'll change his mind."
WAR OF WORDS
Before Friday, Thailand's government had sought to play down Hun Sen's overtures to Thaksin, saying it would try to extradite the former tycoon if he ever came to Cambodia. Hun Sen, however, said his government would never agree to extraditing Thaksin.
The war of words underlined how Thaksin can still yield considerable influence over Thailand's affairs even from exile.
Six months ago, Thaksin also embarrassed the Thai government when hundreds of his red-shirted supporters broke through security barriers at an Asian summit, forcing some leaders to flee by helicopter and abruptly ending the meeting.
Hun Sen caused a stir earlier this month when he ordered troops to shoot any Thai who cross illegally into Cambodia, as nationalist tensions mounted over an 11th century temple the two countries have fought over for decades.
And Hun Sen previously threatened to boycott the Hua Hin meeting altogether over the temple.
Thaksin, who won an unprecedented two landslide election victories, has been living mostly in Dubai since skipping bail for a two-year prison sentence for graft.
He owns a private jet and has travelled the world on various passports, including one from Nicaragua, and continues to rally his supporters in video addresses from exile.
Analysts say with Thaksin's vast war chest and huge support among the rural masses, the party of his supporters, known as Puea Thai, would likely win the next election, a scenario that would lead to more instability in a country dogged by four years of intractable political strife.
(Writing by Jason Szep; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
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