Tea Banh: Thaksin is not in Cambodia

Tea Banh (L) used to play golf with Thaksin (second R) when the latter was Thai PM. Second left is Hun Sen.

Bangkok Post

Published: 30/04/2009

Newspaper section: News

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh talked to defence reporter Wassana Nanuam at the 6th meeting of the General Border Committee, denying rumours that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had sneaked into Cambodia after fleeing into self-imposed exile overseas.

Wassana Nanuam: Is it true that the Cambodian government issued a passport to Mr Thaksin?

Tea Banh: No. that's not true. I have never heard that.

What about reports that Mr Thaksin flew in his private jet to both Phnom Penh and Koh Kong?

WN: I have never seen Thaksin come here to Cambodia. Why should he have to come here? What's the use of coming here?

TB: We cannot do anything to help him now. He might want to go somewhere else, but not Cambodia.

WN: Thai intelligence agencies had reports that Mr Thaksin flew to Phnom Penh and stayed at the residence of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

TB: No. They were rumours. How could that have happened? Mr Hun Sen himself was unhappy with this. They were purely rumours. We don't want to meddle in Thai politics. We want to see Thai people love each other and live in harmony and then we will be able to work together to solve the existing [border] disputes.

WN: What do you think about these rumours?

TB: I don't think spreading such rumours is constructive. They could cause mistrust and strain relations between the two countries. We want to forge better ties and work together to develop the economy.

WN: Political problems in Thailand have also stalled joint efforts to settle the border disputes. What is the relationship between Mr Thaksin and the Cambodian leader?

TB: They were just acquaintances. Cambodia does not want to meddle in Thailand's internal affairs.

WN: Could Cambodia help monitor the movements of Mr Thaksin?

TB: I can confirm that Thaksin has never been to Cambodia [since he fled into self-imposed exile]. If he was here, I would have to be aware of that.