CAMBODIAN PREMIER HUN SEN SAYS DIPLOMATIC SPAT WON'T SPREAD
Published: 8/11/2009
Bangkok Post
The diplomat spat between Thailand and Cambodia is unlikely to spread to the border, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen predicted yesterday.
Relations between the countries have worsened dramatically as Thailand protests against Cambodia's invitation to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to act as its adviser.
Each country has recalled its ambassadors, and on Thursday Thailand decided to scrap talks on the maritime boundary and joint development of the Gulf of Thailand.
Japan and other Asean members are worried by the potential of the dispute to grow further.
However, Hun Sen, in his first comment on the spat yesterday, said the situation on the border is stable.
"The situation in the border areas is stable although there have been verbal exchanges between the two countries over the past two to three months," Hun Sen was quoted as telling Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo yesterday. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official gave the media an account of his comments.
Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia, Prasas Prasasvinitchai, from Phnom Penh on Thursday to protest against Hun Sen's decision to appoint Thaksin as his personal adviser and adviser to the Cambodian government.
Cambodia's ambassador to Thailand returned to her country the next day.
Thaksin's appointment as adviser was made on Oct 27 and announced last Wednesday.
The Thai, Cambodian and Japanese prime ministers attended a summit between Japan and the Mekong countries which ended yesterday. The Thai and Cambodian prime ministers did not have talks. The Japanese prime minister was quoted as saying that Tokyo was concerned about the spat. "I hope the problem improves, as you are important neighbours in the Mekong River region," Mr Hatoyama said.
Mr Hatoyama also met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who said he wanted to keep the problem from worsening, the official said.
Mr Abhisit reaffirmed the government's intention to seek Thaksin's extradition if he visited Cambodia.
Thaksin was convicted for conflicts of interest in a property deal, but fled abroad while on bail.
"We do not accept the view that this is a political case. Rather, it is a straight-forward application of our laws," Mr Abhisit said. Asked if Bangkok would seal its border with Cambodia, Mr Abhisit replied: "At the moment, we don't have plans to do that."
The conflicts prompted Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan to urge other members to help Cambodia and Thailand settle their differences.
He wrote to all Asean foreign ministers on Friday, saying he had received many expressions of concern by Asean's dialogue partners and friends over the deterioration of relations between Cambodia and Thailand. He said the dispute could undermine the credibility of Asean, ahead of key meetings next week.
'We can't afford to be seen as being so seriously divided prior to the upcoming Apec [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] economic leaders meeting, and the Asean-US leaders meeting in Singapore this month," he said.
Asean members are obliged to offer assistance to help fellow member states settle bilateral disputes. Mr Surin called on the two countries to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that might cause more tension. The Apec summit will take place next Saturday and Sunday, and the summit between Asean and the US next Sunday.
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