Four Asean leaders to miss opening

By The Nation

Four Asean leaders would miss the opening ceremony of the 15th Asean Summit in Cha Am/Hua Hin scheduled on Friday because they are busy with internal matters.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be absent.

The opening ceremony would be held at 9.45am on Friday.

Hun Sen would arrive in Hua Hin on Friday at 4pm. as he would be busy with the official visit of South Korean president Lee Myung-bak. The president was former economic adviser of Hun Sen.

Asean chief Surin Pitsuwan (pictured) confirmed that Hun Sen's absence from the opening ceremony was because his busy schedule with the South Korean President.

Hun Sen would then rush to the summit after the visit, Surin said.

Hun Sen would definitely attend the summit and his delay has nothing to do with the border conflict with Thailand, he said.

Indonesia's President Yudhoyono has to attend the inauguration for the second term of his presidency and would arrive in Thailand 8.30pm Friday.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib would attend parliament debate on budget before departing for the summit and would arrive in Thailand around the same time as Filipino President Arroyo at about 9pm.

It is very rare for the Asean to have a number of leaders absentia at the opening ceremony.