Thaksin arrives in Cambodia

[Mentors]

Fugitive ex-premier's trip likely to further deteriorate relations between Cambodia and Thailand.

 

THAILAND's deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Phnom Penh Tuesday at the invitation of Cambodia's government in a move that is likely to escalate a diplomatic row that has already seen the two countries recall their ambassadors and plunged relations to their lowest point in six years.

 

Thaksin, who last week was appointed both an economic adviser to the government and a personal adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen – further inflaming Thai anger – is expected to deliver a lecture to hundreds of Cambodian economics experts on Thursday.

 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told the Post Tuesday he was unsure how long Thaksin would remain in Cambodia.

 

The ex-premier, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, arrived at the military air base adjacent to Phnom Penh International Airport in a small jet, and was briefly greeted by several Cambodian officials on the tarmac before being whisked away in a motorcade.

 

Thaksin's visit to Cambodia is the closest he has come to his country since living in self-exile to avoid a prison term for abuse of power charges handed down in absentia in 2008.

 

In a posting late Monday on his Web site, Thaksin claimed his trip to Cambodia was not an act of provocation.

 

"As I travel to Cambodia to discuss poverty and the world economic situation, I will try to preserve Thai interests with our friends in Phnom Penh, despite the Thai government still hounding me wherever I go,†he wrote.

 

“I will not go to Cambodia to help Cambodia fight with Thailand, but to exchange views and experiences on poverty-solving as well as new regional economics.â€Â

 

Bangkok has vowed to seek the fugitive billionaire’s extradition, with Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesman Thani Thongphakdi saying Monday that his government was already in the process of preparing the extradition documentation.

 

Cambodia, however, has maintained that Thaksin will not be extradited because he was prosecuted for “political reasons,†with Prime Minister Hun Sen comparing the ex-Thai leader to Myanmar opposition figure Aung San Suu Kyi during the 15th ASEAN summit in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin last month.

 

Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong confirmed Tuesday that the government will “absolutely not†extradite Thaksin.

 

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University, said Sunday that in the event of Thaksin’s arrival in Cambodia, the government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva “will be forced to step up the escalation spiralâ€Â.

 

He added, however, that both sides must own up to their responsibility for the breakdown in relations.

“Hun Sen has overstepped the line here – diplomatically, legally, politically,†he said.

 

“At the same time, the Abhisit government has to own up to its past deeds. Appointing [Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya] has been a liability, and now you can see the consequences. Allowing Sam Rainsy to speak in Thailand has added fuel to the fire. Allowing the right wing radical groups from the PAD [People's Alliance for Democracy] to protest at the [Preah Vihear temple] site… has added fuel to the fire.â€Â

 

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009111029417/National-news/thailands-thaksin-arrives-in-cambodia-on-controversial-visit.html

[Mentors]

Thaksin gives economic lecture to Cambodian economic experts

 

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Thursday took his role for the first time as adviser of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia to give a economic lecture to more than 300 Cambodian economic experts at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

 

The theme of Thaksin's first lecture was "Strategy to Fight Financial and Economic Crisis."

"I will humbly recommend whatever I think might be appropriate for the Cambodian government and the peoples," said Thaksin.

 

Keat Chhon, deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, in his welcome speech said that "He (Thaksin) initiated many eye-catching policies ... They affected the economy, public health, education, energy, social order, drug suppression and international relations."

 

"I think that there are a lot of things we can learn from Thaksin's very recent and distinctive experiences in order to design our own policies to address the challenges posed by the crisis and bring our economy back to its high growth record.

 

Thaksin encourages Cambodian government to continuing its past policies that have been applicable to the countries, such as microfinancing policy; one village one product; investing in infrastructure, water and irrigation; legal system's reform to accommodate the growth and the investment.

*You don't invest first than investor don't come," he said, adding that "idea itself is not enough. Implementation is important."

 

Meanwhile, Thaksin appealed the small countries do not over reliance on big countries' markets like in the past in order to avoid becoming victims of the financial crisis. He also said there are signings that the development of the world economy in the future will be shift to Asia, such as China, India and Middle East.

 

Relations between the two neighboring countries were further strained recently after Cambodia named ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra its economic adviser. Thailand recalled its ambassador Thursday, and Cambodia followed suit.

 

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup for alleged massive corruption and other charges. His supporters say he should be pardoned and returned to power. Since the coup, Thaksin has lived abroad to escape a corruption conviction and two-year prison sentence.

 

Thaksin arrived here on Tuesday. After his arrival, Thailand government asked Cambodia to "provisional arrest for the purpose of extradition of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but was turned down by Cambodian government saying it "considers the prosecution and legal process against Thaksin Shinawatra as a politically motivated proceeding."

 

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen held talks with Thaksin for nearly two hours at his Takhmau suburb residence. Hun Sen also said that he has no plan to discuss Thaksin's visit in Cambodia during Saturday's meeting between ASEAN leaders and U.S. President Barack Obama.

 

After the lecture, Thaksin flied to Siem Reap province to visit world famous Angkor Wat temples and planned to play golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday. He is expected to leave Cambodia on Friday or Saturday.

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/12/content_12443460.htm