Deputy PM Suthep: Thai-Cambodian border will not be closed

BANGKOK, Dec 1 (TNA) - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday reasserted that the Thai government will not close the Thai-Cambodian border as it has concerns for the well-being of the population living along the border.

The deputy Thai premier commented after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen criticised Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for insulting Phnom Penh.

Mr Hun Sen was quoted by foreign media as saying his country will "have no happiness" if Mr Abhisit and Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya are still in power, and that "Abhisit is the PM who is hardest to work with among the ten Thai premiers he had worked with".

Mr Hun Sen also dared his counterpart to close the borders.

Mr Suthep said that the Thai government must remain resolute and careful, while not being preoccupied with Mr Hun Sen's words, as he might have been pressed by domestic or external factors in speaking as he did.

"The prime minister has been careful to his utmost in handling the matter," said Mr Suthep. "I pledge that the border will not be closed as the Thai government will not do anything that will adversely affect the people living along the border."

The deputy premier added that Thailand has yet to consider restoring diplomatic ties with Cambodia to their normal level, but is now trying to resolve the problem at all levels.

Mr Suthep also reminded that the diplomatic row between Thailand and Cambodia flared up right after the visit to Phnom Penh of former Thai premier Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and the appointment of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

Prime Minister Abhisit has continued to emphasise that political and diplomatic retaliation is another matter, and the commitment made by the two countries which are beneficial to their citizens, particularly aid projects, will not be revoked, Mr Suthep said, referring to the agreement under which Bangkok will make a Bt1.4-billion (US$41.2 million) loan to upgrade a highway from the Thai border and other loans.

Regarding unconfirmed reports regarding a deal with Cambodia to release detained Thai engineer Siwarak Chutipong in exchange for reinstating the Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh, Mr Suthep denied that.

However he said the Abhisit government is continuing its duty to help the detainee, while the negotiations to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries must be carried out.

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Suthep spurns Surakiart's call [for Thailand to hold dialogue with Cambodia]

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday brushed aside former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai's call for the government to initiate talks with Cambodia to normalise the relations between the two countries.

Mr Surakiart made the call during a seminar on the Thai-Cambodian relations at Chulalongkorn University on Thursday. He also said the Thai-Cambodian conflict should be raised for discussion in the Asean forum.

Mr Suthep said the conflict was between two counries and it should not be made a problem of Asean.

"It is not that we fear it would be a loss of face. It is a difference of thinking. Mr Surakiart may have his own thinking, but the government thinks the problem of two countries should not of Asean or a higher level," Mr Suthep said.

He said it would take some time before the two countries reach a good understanding. As long as conditions leading to the conflict remains, it would be difficult to hold talks, he said.

The relations between Thailand and Cambodia deterioated after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was appointed economic adviser to the Cambodian government and personal adviser of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Hun Sen's refusal to turn down Thailand's request to extradite Thaksin started diplomatic spats between the two countries.

Mr Suthep denied knowing anything about a report that the Cambodian government would be asked to strip Thaksin of the advisory post, saying he did not know what steps the Foreign Ministry had taken so far.

He said the conflict between the two countries had been limited to diplomatic spats, while the military relations had been intact. Soldiers of the two countries had been in good communication to prevent tensions along the border, he added.

"We neighbours may have a quarrel, but that should not be allowed to develop to fighting. We have to maintain peace," Mr Suthep said.

Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, said the Thai-Cambodian General Border Meeting (GBC) would continue and there would not be a border closure because doing so could affect the ways of life and brotherly relations between peoples along the border.

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Thaksin must resign to end all problems : Suthep

The only way convicted ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra can help solve the Thai-Cambodia row is that he resigns from being an economic adviser for Cambodia.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said Thaksin's role as an adviser has already jeopardise the mutual ties and now the Thai business in Cambodia.

"I'm not asking Khun Thaksin to resign. I believe he must resign to end all conflicts. Or Cambodia revokes his appointment. That will help end the mutual row," Suthep told reporters.

"The diplomatic ties will improve after Thaksin quits his advisory role," Suthep said.

He said he appreciated the gesture by Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh for stepping out to deny condoning the wire-tapping.

"I thank Tea Banh for clarifying the issue, otherwise the international community will remain suspicious of Cambodia," he said.

Tea Banh ruled out on Thursday the eavesdropping and the existence of the taped telephone conversation purported to implicate Thai engineer Siwarak Chotipong for spying in Phnom Penh.

Thai government linked Thaksin to the arrest of a Thai engineer of Cambodia Air Traffic Control Services (Cats) for allegedly spying flight plans of Thaksin and Cambodia's PM Hun Sen.

Cambodia has taken control of Cats, and ordered Thai staffs not to come to work.

Suthep insisted all the problems are the works of Thaksin and his men whose only intentions are to get Thaksin's money back and that Thaksin would not have to serve two-year jail term.

The Nation

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Suthep: Row will end if Thaksin quits

If former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra resigns or is replaced as economic adviser to the Cambodian government, the diplomatic row between Thailand and Phnom Penh will cool down, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.

“This does not mean that I am asking the Cambodian government to do this. They would not do it. But I think this is the easiest way to ease tension between the two countries,” said Mr Suthep.

The deputy premier said he thought Thaksin traveled to Cambodia quite often because he wants to use the neighbouring country as his political base. It was easier to meet his political supporters there.

Mr Suthep thanksed Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Gen Tea Banh for coming forwardand denying that his government has an audio recording of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya ordering the Thail embassy’s first secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai to obtain Thaksin's flight schedule, as claimed by Puea Thai party list MP Jatuporn Promphan.

Gen Tea Banh's rejection of the claim was made in an interview published in a Bangkok Thai-language newspaper today.

Bangkok Post

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Suthep: Govt ready to arrest Thaksin

The government is ready to arrest fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if he enters Thailand, travels across the Thai border or flies over the country's territory, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban warned on Monday.

Mr Suthep urged Thai people to call on Cambodian government advisor Thaksin to return to Thailand to fight his corruption charges so problems in the country would end.

On Thaksin's trip from India to Cambodia on Nov 19, Mr Suthep said the flight had already asked Thailand's permission to pass through the country. However, the government was not aware that Thaksin was on that flight.

"If the government knew that Thaksin was on the plane, we would notify the flight operator about a fugitive passenger on the plane and it would not be permitted to pass through," he said.

Thaksin did not fly across Thailand when he left Phnom Penh on his private jet on Saturday.

The deputy prime minister, who is in charge of security affairs, also thanked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for his offer to be a mediator to resolve the Thai-Cambodian row.

"I would like to thank the Indonesian president for his generosity, but this is an issue between two countries and the government does not want to raise it to an Asean level," he said.

16/11/2009
Bangkok Post

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Suthep instructs security agencies to check report of arrest of Thai man in Phnom Penh

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he had not been informed of the arrest of a Thai man in Phnom Penh on charge of spying.

"I've not received any report yet. I'll check with security agencies whether they have received any report or not," Suthep said.

The Thai man was identified as Siwarak Chothipong, 31. He was working as engineer for Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co Ltd and allegedly copying information of flight schedule of the private jet of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and sent the information back to Thailand.

The Nation

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