BANGKOK, Nov 5 (TNA) – Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban (pictured) downplayed the naming of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as the Cambodian PM’s economic and personal advisor and said he believes the action will not affect bilateral ties as it was Cambodian internal affair.
Mr Suthep said he believed there was no need for Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make any statement as the appointment was its domestic affair, in which Thailand has no right to protest or obstruct.
He said the bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia remain intact.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Cambodian state television on Tuesday night said King Norodom Sihamoni had officially approved Thaksin's appointment both as an advisor to the government and to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on a personal basis. The appointment was dated October 27.
Mr Hun Sen, during the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Thailand last month, asserted that Mr Thaksin (whom he described as his friend) could stay in Cambodia as a guest of the Cambodian government and could be his economic advisor.
The Cambodian prime minister added that he was not interfering in Thailand's internal affairs but that Cambodia has the right to exercise its sovereignty and make such a decision.
Mr Suthep said, however, if any information proved that Mr Thaksin was in Cambodia, the Thai government would request for extradition immediately.
If Phnom Penh denied the request, the government would then see whether the denial could be done under the international legal framework as the two countries had already signed an extradition treaty, he said.
The personal relations should differentiate between bilateral ties, he added.
Ousted in a bloodless coup, ex-premier Thaksin jumped bail and fled sentencing to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok Ratchadapisek land purchase case. The toppled Thai premier now spends most of his time in the United Arab Emirates after his status as a visitor was rejected by a number of countries including both the United Kingdom and Germany. (TNA)
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Gov't not to ask Cambodia to review decision of appointing Thaksin: Thai deputy PM
BANGKOK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- It is not essential for the Thai government to ask Cambodia's government to reconsider its decision of appointing the ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser of the Cambodian government, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thursday.
Former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra was officially appointed as adviser of his Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni, a statement of the Royal Government announced on Wednesday.
"It is not necessary for the Foreign Ministry to send a letter to Cambodia's government to review the decision since it is Cambodia's internal affairs," Thai News Agency quoted Suthep as saying.
The Thai government does not have any right to disrupt this, while the bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia have still existed, Suthep said.
"I am not worried that being the advisor of Thaksin to Cambodia will cause to any border tension so the Thai government does not have to adjust the Thai-Cambodian border strategy," the deputy prime minister said.
Also, Suthep said he has believed such the advisor's appointment for Thaksin will not be harmful to Thailand in the future since he is still confident that Cambodia does not want to have any problem with Thailand.
However, if there is evidence proving Thaksin lives in Cambodia, the Thai government will send a letter to the Cambodian government to ask for extraditing Thaksin to Thailand, Suthep said.
And, if Cambodia refuses to extradite Thaksin, Thailand will see if Cambodia breaks any laws having been agreed by the two countries, Suthep explains.
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
Mr Suthep said he believed there was no need for Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make any statement as the appointment was its domestic affair, in which Thailand has no right to protest or obstruct.
He said the bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia remain intact.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Cambodian state television on Tuesday night said King Norodom Sihamoni had officially approved Thaksin's appointment both as an advisor to the government and to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on a personal basis. The appointment was dated October 27.
Mr Hun Sen, during the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Thailand last month, asserted that Mr Thaksin (whom he described as his friend) could stay in Cambodia as a guest of the Cambodian government and could be his economic advisor.
The Cambodian prime minister added that he was not interfering in Thailand's internal affairs but that Cambodia has the right to exercise its sovereignty and make such a decision.
Mr Suthep said, however, if any information proved that Mr Thaksin was in Cambodia, the Thai government would request for extradition immediately.
If Phnom Penh denied the request, the government would then see whether the denial could be done under the international legal framework as the two countries had already signed an extradition treaty, he said.
The personal relations should differentiate between bilateral ties, he added.
Ousted in a bloodless coup, ex-premier Thaksin jumped bail and fled sentencing to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok Ratchadapisek land purchase case. The toppled Thai premier now spends most of his time in the United Arab Emirates after his status as a visitor was rejected by a number of countries including both the United Kingdom and Germany. (TNA)
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Gov't not to ask Cambodia to review decision of appointing Thaksin: Thai deputy PM
BANGKOK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- It is not essential for the Thai government to ask Cambodia's government to reconsider its decision of appointing the ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser of the Cambodian government, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thursday.
Former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra was officially appointed as adviser of his Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni, a statement of the Royal Government announced on Wednesday.
"It is not necessary for the Foreign Ministry to send a letter to Cambodia's government to review the decision since it is Cambodia's internal affairs," Thai News Agency quoted Suthep as saying.
The Thai government does not have any right to disrupt this, while the bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia have still existed, Suthep said.
"I am not worried that being the advisor of Thaksin to Cambodia will cause to any border tension so the Thai government does not have to adjust the Thai-Cambodian border strategy," the deputy prime minister said.
Also, Suthep said he has believed such the advisor's appointment for Thaksin will not be harmful to Thailand in the future since he is still confident that Cambodia does not want to have any problem with Thailand.
However, if there is evidence proving Thaksin lives in Cambodia, the Thai government will send a letter to the Cambodian government to ask for extraditing Thaksin to Thailand, Suthep said.
And, if Cambodia refuses to extradite Thaksin, Thailand will see if Cambodia breaks any laws having been agreed by the two countries, Suthep explains.
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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