Thailand, Cambodia To Restore Ties

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Thailand, Cambodia to restore ties

Nirmal Ghosh

The Straits Times

Thailand Monday said it would restore full ties with Cambodia after Thaksin Shinawatra had resigned as Cambodia's economics adviser

Thailand Monday (August 23) said it would restore full diplomatic relations with Cambodia, hours after Phnom Penh announced that former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had resigned as its economics adviser.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Bangkok's ambassador to Cambodia would return to Phnom Penh Tuesday.

Cambodia said Thaksin had stepped down "because of personal difficulties in fulfilling his role completely".

Bangkok recalled Mr Prasart Prasartwinitchai in late 2009 after Thaksin was appointed an adviser to the Cambodian government. Cambodia also recalled its ambassador to Thailand in a tit-for-tat move.

In Phnom Penh, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Cambodia was ready to dispatch its ambassador back to Bangkok once Thailand's envoy returned.

Relations, already strained over ownership of disputed land adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border, nosedived after Thaksin's appointment last November and his subsequent trip to Phnom Penh.

He stayed for a few days in a house provided by the government, a stone's throw from the Thai Embassy.

Monday's announcement that Thaksin has stepped down as Cambodia's economic adviser has removed one of the two main irritants in bilateral ties. The other sticking point is the territorial dispute.

Diplomats and analysts were looking at a possible meeting between the two Premiers in October on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels.

"I think we can meet and talk there (in Brussels) without involving any international organisation or a third country," Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday.

On the United Nations' offer at the weekend to help both sides resolve their border dispute, Abhisit added: "Let me express my confidence here that this is an issue that both countries can resolve between us."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had sought mediation from the UN and from Asean following a new wave of tension last month.

Late last month, Thailand's right-wing People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) pressured Mr Abhisit to scuttle a plan by Cambodia for development of the 11th-century pre-Angkor temple.

The temple, known as Pra Vihan to the Thais and Preah Vihear to Khmers, has been at the centre of both countries' territorial disputes for years.

The International Court's ruling in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia is a decision that still rankles with many Thais and enrages nationalists.

In 2008, the temple was the site of deadly clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops. The PAD had then used the issue to discredit the Thaksin-loyalist government at the time, forcing the resignation of then Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.

In September last year, a right-wing faction of the PAD triggered a riot when it marched to the temple to demand that Cambodians leave the disputed land. The PAD members clashed with Thai locals who wanted to prevent fresh tensions from hurting business in the area.

There was no statement from Thaksin on the Cambodian government's announcement. The former Thai premier has been living overseas since 2008, dodging a two-year jail sentence for corruption. A major chunk of his assets has been seized by the Thai government.

Deposed in a 2006 coup, he is accused of supplying funding for 'red shirt' anti-government protests from abroad.

Some of the more radical red-shirt leaders are said to be in Cambodia - another sore point for Bangkok.

-- ANN 2010-08-24

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Thai-Cambodian Relations to Normalize Today

It has been revealed that, after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra signed a resignation letter from his post as economic advisor to the Cambodian government, Thai-Cambodian relations will be normalized today.

Thailand will be sending its ambassador back to Phnom Penh today as Cambodia will be sending its ambassador back to Bangkok today as well.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that Cambodia will release the three Thai suspects arrested while trespassing on Cambodian soil last week within three days.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-24

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Thailand sending its ambassador back to Cambodia

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thailand has restored its ambassadorial-level relationship with Cambodia after the latter announced ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has resigned as an advisor to the Cambodian Government.

According to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed Thai Ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasasvinitchai to return to Phnom Penh to resume his duties from Tuesday onwards.

The order was made after former Prime Minister Thaksin has resigned from the post of economic advisor to the Cambodian Government. With Cambodia’s confirmation on the issue, Bangkok no longer has any reason to recall its ambassador from the neighboring country, said Mr Kasit.

Meanwhile, Phnom Penh is also preparing to send its Ambassador to Thailand You Ay back to Bangkok. Mr Kasit expressed his appreciation for Cambodia’s cooperation to maintain and improve healthy ties with each other.

Bangkok recalled its ambassador to retaliate Phnom Penh after the latter refused to extradite the ousted Prime Minister to Thailand as requested in November 2009. Phnom Penh then countered Bangkok by summoning its ambassador back as well.

-- NNT 2010-08-24

[SamritT]

Thailand, Cambodia to restore ties, said the Singaporan (The Straits Times). Mind your own business.

[SomTumTiger]

All the red shirts arsonists hiding out in Cambodia just gave a collective "Oh Shit!!!!" lol

[Thakkar]

Thailand, Cambodia to restore ties, said the Singaporan (The Straits Times). Mind your own business.

Reporting the news (local, regional, international, galactic events) *is* their business. They are a newspaper.