Friday, November 6, 2009

Bangkok can not predict how long diplomatic retaliation against Cambodia to end: Thai deputy PM

BANGKOK, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government can not predict for how long the diplomatic retaliation against Cambodia will end since it will depend on Cambodia's additional movement, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Friday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced Thursday Thailand has to make diplomatic retaliation against Cambodia's interference of Thailand's internal affairs.

His remark was made after ousted former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra was officially appointed as adviser of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni.

Abhisit said the appointment of Thaksin is the intervention on Thailand's internal affairs by Cambodia.

The Thai government can not predict how the situation will be developed from now, hence it is essential to keep closely monitoring the situation, Thai News Agency quoted Suthep as saying.

However, Suthep said he already clarified Thailand's diplomatic reasons (concerning the retaliation against Cambodia) to the Cambodian ambassador to Thailand prior to his departure for Cambodia.

The Cambodian government on Thursday evening announced to recall its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government’s recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.

Regarding the Thai-Cambodian border, whether Thailand will close its border or not, it will depend on how the situation will be developed in Cambodia, Suthep said.

But, Thailand has still insisted that the country does not want any violence to occur at the border, Suthep said.

Also, this matter is bilateral, therefore it is not necessary for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN to intervene, Suthep said.

This event has also reflected Thaksin wants to use Cambodia as his political base and it is believed this latest move by Thaksin has been well planned, the deputy premier said.

Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then.

He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.


Editor: Deng Shasha

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