Thailand aims to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia

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THAI-SAUDI RELATIONS
Thailand aims to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee yesterday said Thailand hoped to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia after the Arab country recalled its head of mission last month over a controversial court verdict.

Abdulelah al-Sheaiby, the Saudi Arabian embassy's charge d'affaires, was recalled on July 18, four months after Thailand's Criminal Court found five Thai police officers not guilty of abducting and murdering a Saudi businessman who went missing in Bangkok in 1990.

Sek insisted that Thailand still hoped to normalise ties with Saudi Arabia by removing obstacles in bilateral relations. He said Thailand was serious about bringing justice to the case and public prosecutors had already filed an appeal against the ruling.

The verdict on March 31 was the latest development in the case of Mohammad al-Ruwaili, a Saudi businessman abducted and murdered in Bangkok in 1990.

Haj pilgrims quota

Sek said the ministry had invited the current Saudi Arabian diplomat to discuss reports that Riyadh had cut the Haj pilgrims quota from certain countries.

He said the quota reduction was imposed to pave the way for the renovation of mosques at Mecca.

The reduction of pilgrims had nothing to do with the development in the al-Ruwaili case.

Sek responded to al-Ruwaili's family drafting a petition to seek justice from His Majesty the King, saying the family can lodge the petition via a legal avenue.

In 1993, Saudi Arabia withdrew its ambassador to Thailand and restricted travel between the two countries following a series of scandals, starting with the massive theft of jewels from a Saudi Arabian royal palace by a Thai gardener and a spate of murders and abductions later.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thailand-aims-to-normalise-relations-with-Saudi-Ar-30241685.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-25

[kurnell]

Surely not. Wouldn't that involve telling the truth??

[EricBerg]

First piss off the ruling clan. The stolen belongings of one clan member are gone. The whole police and judiciaire follow-up has a strong stench for the Saudis. People got murdered in the search for the jewelry. And then want to normalise relations with the country? No chance whatsoever!

[Payboy]

He said Thailand was serious about bringing justice to the case...

25 years, blah blah blah.

[rhythmworx]

Restricted travel, obviously that didn't work.

Edited August 24, 2014 by rhythmworx

[ib1b4]

The simple fact is normal relations cannot be restored until the Blue Diamond is returned to the Saudi's.

[jaidam]

The simple fact is normal relations cannot be restored until the Blue Diamond is returned to the Saudi's.

Risky move, but with technological advances it might be worth sending back another fake Blue Diamond. The old "double bluff" if played with a straight face and enough conviction, might just work. Either way, would be good for a laugh.

[MobileContent]

The Blue Diamond will never been found but the Thai's should finally focus on the killings of the Saudi diplomats. Only when the killers are found and face jail, will the case finally rest so that normal diplomatic relation can be restored. Anything else is wishful thinking.

[tomyummer]

I heard that heads were going to start rolling again on the Saudi jewels. This time it's going all the way to the top.

[15Peter20]

I heard that heads were going to start rolling again on the Saudi jewels. This time it's going all the way to the top.

The only things that ever go all the way to the top are money and adulation. Otherwise it wouldn't be the top.

[SOTIRIOS]

...so I guess they cannot deny it anymore....

[AGareth2]

it has probably been recut

[wave]

This is really chickens coming home to roost.

After the Foreign ministry claiming that the withdrawal of the Saudi Diplomat was "normal" the are now claiming that they want to return to normal relations with the Saudis.

Obviously this won't happen until the Saudis get an acceptable resolution to this whole sorry mess.

With the current administration this is highly unlikely and the Saudis know it.

Don't expect anything to change in the near future.

[Halion]

Given the sincerity, intellect and abilities demonstrated so frequently they will be as successful at this as they were with the floods.

[Robespiere]

I heard that heads were going to start rolling again on the Saudi jewels. This time it's going all the way to the top.

Given the current situation in the country - quite the opposite will occur

[kerrysum]

First piss off the ruling clan. The stolen belongings of one clan member are gone. The whole police and judiciaire follow-up has a strong stench for the Saudis. People got murdered in the search for the jewelry. And then want to normalise relations with the country? No chance whatsoever!

I wouldn't ..... But hey go where the money is right? So does LOS mean Land of Saudi's?

[rreddin]

This is really chickens coming home to roost.

After the Foreign ministry claiming that the withdrawal of the Saudi Diplomat was "normal" the are now claiming that they want to return to normal relations with the Saudis.

Obviously this won't happen until the Saudis get an acceptable resolution to this whole sorry mess.

With the current administration this is highly unlikely and the Saudis know it.

Don't expect anything to change in the near future.

What is not being said here? The junta want to do something about the insurgency problem in the South. They know they need a political solution and for that they need the help of Saudia Arabia. Abhisit knew this and it was speculated at the time that a discreet approach was made to the Saudis, which kicked off a surge of activity in the murder/jewel theft case. The Saudis, no doubt, have set out their terms for helping bring peace to the South. Two of the items on their list are not hard to guess. Maybe a moriens confessione will solve one of the problems and who knows, the stolen jewellery might even be discovered in a few years by a workman doing some repairs to an old building in Bangkok.

[ableguy]

what do the Saudis think to this wonderful plan ? Up yours bunch of ..............

[eeeya]

This is really chickens coming home to roost.

After the Foreign ministry claiming that the withdrawal of the Saudi Diplomat was "normal" the are now claiming that they want to return to normal relations with the Saudis.

Obviously this won't happen until the Saudis get an acceptable resolution to this whole sorry mess.

With the current administration this is highly unlikely and the Saudis know it.

Don't expect anything to change in the near future.

What is not being said here? The junta want to do something about the insurgency problem in the South. They know they need a political solution and for that they need the help of Saudia Arabia. Abhisit knew this and it was speculated at the time that a discreet approach was made to the Saudis, which kicked off a surge of activity in the murder/jewel theft case. The Saudis, no doubt, have set out their terms for helping bring peace to the South. Two of the items on their list are not hard to guess. Maybe a moriens confessione will solve one of the problems and who knows, the stolen jewellery might even be discovered in a few years by a workman doing some repairs to an old building in Bangkok.

Not taking the piss here, but what has the saudis got to do with the south? I never heard this before

Edited August 30, 2014 by eeeya

[Briggsy]

Every single new administration in Thailand says the same thing. It reminds me of selling tactics here, If they ask you enough times, eventually you will agree. That is the thinking any way. Sometimes it works. No dice with the Saudis I am afraid. They want murder convictions for the killers of their diplomats and detective and their jewels back.