Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Cambodia Rejects Thailand’s CATS Allegations


Tuesday, 24 November 2009 02:46 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI news Media)

A Cambodian Government spokesman rejected reports from Thai news agencies on November 21, which alleged that the daughter of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen would hold shares in Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS), a private company.

Thai news agencies quoted Dr. Panitan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the Thai prime minister and the Thai Government’s acting spokesman, as saying Hun Sen’s daughter would take shares in CATS after the Cambodian Government has temporarily taken over management of the firm, according to Dr Panitan Wattanayakorn.

The Cambodian Council of Ministers (CoM) in a Monday press release said it “wishes to stress, once again, that the Royal Government of Cambodia appointed its officials to temporarily supervise and manage the company, only to protect the national security and safety for Cambodian leaders.”

The temporary supervision and management of CATS by the Cambodian Government “will continue until the court’s final decision to bring an end to the case of the Thai staff, who has been accused of disclosing the confidential flight schedule of Thaksin Shinawatra. Following the court’s final decision, the Royal Government of Cambodia will take position on the company’s management,” the CoM release said.

Meanwhile, Chawanon Intarakomalsut, the Thai Foreign Minister’s secretary, said in Bangkok that CATS is registered in Hong Kong and it was not possible to determine the identity of its shareholders, according to Thai newswires.

He said, however, it would be difficult for any individual to take over the company, but his ministry would try to assist CATS. So far the company has not requested help.

Regarding the above allegation, the CoM expressed strong regrets, and wondered why such a news report would be fabricated. Indeed, this action, which indicates a lack of political maturity, seems to show clearly the intention of the Abhisit’s government to use a private company as a tool of political exploitation and diplomatic boasting and to discourage foreign investors who invest in Cambodia.

The Abhisit-led government has violated international law as well as bilateral agreements, such as the Judgment of the International Court of Justice of the Hague in 1962 on the Case of the Temple of Preah Vihear.

Recently, the Abhisit’s government unilaterally revoked an 2001 MOU specifying negotiation arrangements aimed at achieving a joint development of oil and gas in the Area of the Overlapping Maritimes Claims to the Continental Shelf, which is to be implemented at the same time as the planned negotiations on the maritime boundary delimitation.

“These actions reflect the Thai Government’s glaring violation of the principles of international law concerning the obligations signatories have to fulfill in the context of bilateral, multi-lateral agreements or treaties as stipulated in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969 particularly as it relates to the principle of state continuity and the Pacta Sunt Servada principle,” the statement said.

“On the contrary, as a member of the United Nations, Cambodia has been always strictly respectful of its obligation as a signatory State to international agreements and treaties in force. Indeed, the Royal Government of Cambodia has never violated any agreements it has signed.”

“The Royal Government of Cambodia always fulfills the agreements it signs, including agreements with the private sector, so as to enhance the confidence of local and foreign investors, including Thai investors.”

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