Thaksin in Cambodia

A file picture of Thaksin arriving in Cambodia on 10th November, 2011.

Published: 17/09/2011
Bangkok Post

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Phnom Penh early Saturday, foreign news agencies reported.

He was met by Cambodian officials, including a member of the office of Prime Minister Hun Sen. There were no formalities or arrival statements, the reports said.

According to Mr Hun Sen, Thaksin will attend and speak at the Asian Economic Forum Conference, sponsored by the government.

The fugitive ex-premier, in self-imposed exile from a two-year prison sentence, also will be meeting Thai red shirts, several thousand of whom have travelled to Phnom Penh for the opportunity.

"Thaksin [is] not competent in the Thai government - he's a private person only," said government spokesman Phay Siphan. "He's no longer a prime minister adviser, but we still respect him as a private resource."

Mr Phay Siphan said Thaksin would make two speeches, to the Asean conference and a confidential speech on economy to a government forum.