Cambodia unclear about Thaksin's visit this week: defense minister

Thaksin (2nd right) played golf with Prime Minister Hun Sen (2nd left) and Defence Minister Tea Banh (left) a few years ago.

August 18, 2011

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Tea Banh said Wednesday that he was not sure about the visit of Thailand's ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Cambodia later this week.

"I am unclear about his visit," he told reporters on Wednesday. "I also see the reports in the Thai media, but it is unclear."

Tea Banh's remark came after The Nation newspaper on Wednesday quoted a source inside Pheu Thai Party, claiming that Thaksin is expected to be in Cambodia for two days from Friday, and he will take some foreign investors to meet and play golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Defense Minister Tea Banh to make the business deal.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he was unaware of Thaksin's visit to Cambodia later this week.

"However, for Cambodia, Thaksin can come to Cambodia at anytime in accordance to his wish," he told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Thaksin is a close friend of Hun Sen. He used to be the economic advisor to Cambodian government and to Prime Minister Hun Sen from November 2009 to August 2010.