Bangkok Post
The commander of the 2nd Army Region covering the area adjoining the eastern border has slammed special investigators for a report claiming Thais received terrorist training in Cambodia.
Hun Sen: In touch with Abhisit
Thawatchai Samutsakhon said yesterday the Department of Special Investigation should have been more discreet and sought to avoid inflaming tensions between the two countries.
Lt Gen Thawatchai called the DSI "tactless" for making public information it had received after arresting 11 men at a resort in Chiang Mai 12 days ago. It had only upset Phnom Penh and complicated bilateral ties in the absence of substantive evidence.
"The best way to approach an issue which could lead to friction is not to mention other countries," he said.
The DSI claimed on Monday the group of 11 men had admitted to receiving weapons training in Cambodia together with 28 other men in preparation to carry out acts of terrorism in Thailand.
Lt Gen Thawatchai said he doubted the training took place in Cambodia. The DSI had not asked the 2nd Army Region, which oversees the Cambodian border, for information.
The DSI report drew an angry response from Cambodia yesterday which accused Thai authorities of playing "dirty games" and of concocting evidence, an AFP report said.
"Cambodia strongly demands that Thailand's DSI put an end to the dirty games of concocting evidence to deflect Thailand public opinion from Thailand's own internal political and social problems," a spokesman for the Council of Ministers said, as quoted by AFP.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had been in touch with his Thai counterpart, Abhisit Vejjajiva, about the allegations and asked him to clarify Bangkok's position, the report said.
Hun Sen said in a speech at a university graduation ceremony that Cambodia had a "responsibility to fight against terrorism" and that it would "not interfere in Thailand's internal affairs".
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday played down speculation the DSI report would affect relations with Cambodia.
He said he expected the two countries to look into the report together to get the facts right.
The Foreign Ministry has asked the DSI for information to give to Cambodia to help with its investigation into the charges.
"I believe that this situation will not affect bilateral relations. When it is news, the two nations should discuss it together," Mr Kasit said.
"Thailand has to send information from the DSI to Cambodian officials to ask for their cooperation in checking the facts."
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