Published: 24 Jan 2013
Bangkok Post
Writer: Apinya Wipatayotin
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says he
stands by his claims that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
gained from oil and gas deals in Cambodia.
Mr Abhisit was reacting to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's
remarks that he was always accusing Thaksin of benefiting from deals
struck in Cambodia without backing up his claims.
Hun Sen's comments were published in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.
Mr Abhisit said yesterday he always told the truth when he met Hun Sen.
The Cambodian premier should check three pieces of evidence that would prove what he said was true, Mr Abhisit said.
Mr Abhisit said the evidence came from Thaksin's interviews, WikiLeaks and Hun Sen's own statements.
Mr Abhisit said he alleged Thaksin might have something to do with
marine, natural gas and oil resources in Cambodia because Thaksin had
declared his interest in doing business with Cambodia in relation to
these resources.
Thaksin's intention to conduct business in Cambodia also was published in WikiLeaks, Mr Abhisit said.
More importantly, he said, Hun Sen had himself mentioned that Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has held talks with Cambodia on this issue.
Mr Abhisit said he was not surprised to learn that Hun Sen was
friendly when he met him face to face, but made different remarks when
speaking in other forums. He said he thought the public was "well aware
of how reliable Hun Sen actually was".
He said he was unsure whether Hun Sen was confused about the
information he made public, or he simply pretended to be confused about
it.
In line with Hun Sen's remarks, Foreign Minister Surapong
Tovichakchaikul yesterday challenged Mr Abhisit to disclose evidence to
prove Thaksin and the Yingluck government had benefited from an oil and
gas deal with Cambodia in the overlapping zone.
Mr Surapong said his government has not held any negotiations about the zone with Cambodia as it is a sensitive issue.
He said he was afraid the issue would be whipped up politically by some anti-government groups.
Mr Surapong insisted the government has not held talks about the
issue since the Abhisit government ordered the Foreign Affairs Ministry
to scrap the Memorandum of Understanding on the overlapping area in
November 2009.
The then government issued the order after former deputy prime
minister Suthep Thaugsuban visited Cambodia in June 2009 in an attempt
to negotiate the overlapping marine zone.
"I want to make the same demand as Hun Sen did. Mr Abhisit must provide evidence proving Thaksin is involved," Mr Surapong said.
"Today, we have to stay with the facts. I don't want to drag it into politics."
Concerning the Preah Vihear temple issue, Mr Surapong said a legal
team led by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep
Thepkachana will go to London on Feb 5 to meet foreign legal consultants
there ahead of hearings at the International Court of Justice.
"We are confident we can win the case," he said referring to the
dispute with Cambodia over land in the area surrounding the temple.
"But if not, we are considering all means to find a resolution."
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