Cambodian PM blasts former Thai PM Abhisit for involving Cambodia in Thai internal conflict

Souce:Xinhua 

Publish By Thomas Whittle 

Updated 22/01/2013

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 21 — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) on Monday lashed out at former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition Democrat Party, for linking Cambodia to Thai internal conflict.

“These days, Thailand’s internal politics has heated up, especially during campaigning (for the March 3 election for the job of Bangkok governor), and Abhisit Vejjajiva always links Cambodia to Thai internal issues,” the premier said during a land- titling ceremony in northern Stung Treng province.

He said Abhisit and Thai “yellow shirt” group have repeatedly claimed that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ” mysterious advantage” with Cambodia on the negotiation of the area of overlapping maritime claim.

They also alleged that the current Thai government was loosening struggle on the overland dispute, especially the Preah Vihear temple area, in order to get benefits from the overlapping maritime oil and gas area, Hun Sen said.

“You, Abhisit, should show evidence to prove your allegations whether what benefits Thaksin gets from Cambodia. If you have no evidence, it means that you are cheating more than 60 million Thais and over 14 million Cambodians,” he said. “This is your dirty politics.”

Hun Sen said that previous border clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over the disputed area next to Preah Vihear temple were in Abhisit’s administration and Abhisit must be responsible for the losses of human lives and properties.

“Now, Cambodian government led by Hun Sen and Thai government led by Yingluck Shinawatra have been treating the wounds that were caused by Abhisit, but Abhisit and his group have been causing the trouble again,” he said.

“Thai people should clearly understand that former Abhisit’s government, not Yingluck’s current administration, created trouble with Cambodia,” he added.

Hun Sen explained that Cambodia brought the case of Preah Vihear temple to the International Court of Justice and to the United Nations Security Council because of the Abhisit’s ex- government.

The two neighbors have had sporadic border conflicts over territorial dispute near Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of scrub next to the temple.

Fierce clashes between the two sides’ troops happened in February and April 2011 during Thailand’s Democrat Party rule.

However, the two countries have seen improving ties since August, 2011 when Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party won the general election and led the current government.