Thai Embassy Reopens In Phnom Penh

[george]

Thai Embassy reopens in Phnom Penh one year after riots

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Thailand's embassy reopened Monday a little more than one year after being torched by a mob during anti-Thai riots in the Cambodian capital.

"It's great to be back at our place,'' said a Thai diplomat, before driving to work.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the embassy had invited nine Buddhist monks to bless the restored building at a small ceremony inside the embassy's compound on Sunday.

Thais believe the number 9 is auspicious.

Mobs burned the embassy complex and Thai-owned businesses in Phnom Penh on Jan. 29 last year. The riot was triggered by false Cambodian newspaper reports that a Thai actress had allegedly insulted Cambodia by saying the country's famed Angkor Wat temples belonged to neighboring Thailand.

Prime Minister Hun Sen helped fuel the violence when he said the Thai actress was "not even worth a few blades of grass'' that grow around Angkor's temples.

The actress, Suwanan Kongying, denied making any derogatory remarks about Cambodia.

The Thai embassy is located across the street from Cambodia's powerful Ministry of Interior, which controls the country's police forces. But Cambodian police did little to prevent the attack, which drew strong condemnation around the world.

Thailand sent military planes to evacuate its citizens and suspended all ties with Cambodia.

Much about the incident remains unknown. In September, a Cambodian court freed 56 people accused of participating in the riots, though it convicted them of theft and attempted theft. Two others were given short prison terms.

Relations were fully restored after Cambodia, an impoverished Southeast Asian nation that relies heavily on foreign aid, paid US$5.9 million for damages to the embassy.

Thai companies say the violence caused more than US$46.8 million in damage but it's not clear if any of them have been compensated yet.

- AP 2004-02-09

[JaroenVan]

Thanks a lot for this one!

That's excactly the news I've been waiting for.

JaroenVan

[Up2U]

Why wait for the Embassy to open?

The border posts have been open all the time (as far as I know).

I have made regular trips to Aryunprathet (Poi Pet) to renew my visa - the only problem has been the crush of bodies trying to get through the Immigration counters. Last Saturday I estimate 1,500 people at midday. Took 1 1/2 hours to get my stamp.

So it takes up a whole day to drive there, do the necessary and drive back, but if you want to visit Kampuchea, that need have nothing to do with visa renewal, so no need for concern about Embassy, Consulate or such. I have found it far more difficult to renew in Phnom Penh than at the border, anyway.

[Rinrada]

"paid US$5.9 million for damages to the embassy."

I seem to remember that the dosh was a contribution from a couple of Thai honchos (entrepreneurs)who were losing money on their casinos

Anyway never mind,good to know the Embassy back in working order and hopefully the 2 countries can talk to each other again