Thread: Diplomats not supporting Thailand's recall of Ambassador to Cambodia

Originally Posted by dirtydog

laziness or just sheer incompetance?

Both as it was when they didn't get around to objecting to the Thai/Cambodian border as prescribed by the UN many years ago. Just now getting around to objecting to it.

Sounds like Abbo's shit scared of Tacky. Tacky just waiting for a "significant event" following which the SET will collapse along with the baht, all of which will be blamed on the present administration by Tacky and his supporters. At which point Tacky is let back into Thailand which will make the peasants happy and should Tacky get power again then it's coupe time.

..then it's coupe time..

Not sedan time?

How about some saloon time

Or rag top. TD is too good for you fck off back to TV where you belong.

Thai Ambassador to travel to Phnom Penh tomorrow : Kasit


Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Monday that a Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh will go to Phnom Penh tomorrow.

An FM source said meanwhile Prasart Prasartwinitchai, recalled from Phnom Pehn following appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra to be an economic advisor for Phnom Penh government last year, would not be reinstated.

It is a diplomatic protocal not to send the recalled envoy back to the country. The new ambassador is reportedly believed to be Sompong Suwannabun.

Meanwhile Cambodia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said Monday that it depended on Thailand when it would reinstate its ambassador as Cambodia will reciporcate.

He was responding to reports that former ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has resigned from the position of economic advisor to Hun Sen government.

The appointment of Thaksin in October last year has worsened the bilateral ties, with Thailand and Cambodia recalling their ambassadors.

"If Thailand reinstates its ambassador to Cambodia, we will do the same," he told the Nation in a telephone interview.

nationmultimedia.com

Interesting move by square head....

Somewhat conflicting reports....

Bangkok Post : Hopes rise as Thaksin quits post

Hopes rise as Thaksin quits post

Neighbours decide to send back envoys

• Published: 24/08/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The resignation of Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to Cambodia and subsequent return of Thailand's ambassador to Phnom Penh have boosted hopes of an easing of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.


Abhisit: ‘‘Clearing the way to normalcy’’

"I believe that the normalised relations with the reinstatement of the ambassadors will clear the way for the two countries to more easily resolve all problems," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Thailand has decided to return its ambassador to Cambodia, Prasas Prasasvinitchai, to Phnom Penh today after ousted premier Thaksin yesterday resigned from his controversial advisory role.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thaksin's resignation satisfied a Thai condition - that he not play a role in the Cambodian government - before bilateral ties could return to normal.

A spokesman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, Koy Kuong, said in Phnom Penh that Cambodia was ready to send back its ambassador You Aye to Bangkok once Thailand's envoy had returned.

Cambodia said Thaksin had stepped down "because of personal difficulties in fulfilling his role completely".

"The Cambodian government accepts the request by His Excellency Thaksin Shinawatra with thanks to the contributions that he has made to the Cambodian economy," a statement said.

Mr Kasit said: "I would like to thank the Cambodian government for the intention to move forward our relations."

Thailand recalled its ambassador one day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed Thaksin to the advisory role on Nov 4 last year. Cambodia responded by ordering You Aye to return to the Cambodian capital on Nov 6.

A government source said the move by Thaksin to resign his post was a result of talks at several levels between Thai and Cambodia on the stumbling blocks to improving relations if the former premier remained an adviser to Phnom Penh. Thaksin was forced to resign the position so relations between the two countries could move ahead, the source said.

Thailand expected good news from Cambodia regarding Thaksin even before it was officially announced by Phnom Penh, the source said.

But Thaksin's legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, denied the allegation that Thaksin was forced to step down. "I can confirm that the resignation was voluntary to benefit ties between the two countries," Mr Noppadon said.

It was Thaksin's intention to quit the role because his business engagements overseas gave him no time to work for the Cambodian government, he said.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith also said yesterday Thaksin's resignation was unrelated to the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, saying the former prime minister had resigned because he was "busy with a lot of work".

The normalising of relations comes ahead of a planned meeting in Brussels in October between the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers to resolve their conflicts on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting summit.

Ties between the two countries have been strained since July 2008 by a series of deadly border clashes over land surrounding the Preah Vihear temple after it was granted world heritage status under Cambodian stewardship.

The two countries stepped up their war of words over the territorial spat recently, with Hun Sen warning it could lead to fresh bloodshed, after Thailand blocked the Cambodian management plan for the temple and its buffer zone at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil last month.

Thailand opposed the plan on the grounds that part of the buffer zone included the disputed area which it said should be settled first.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the Thai foreign minister, said Thailand's position on the Preah Vihear temple remained unchanged despite the resignation of Thaksin from his advisory role to Phnom Penh.

Thailand was ready to talk with Cambodia to try to settle the problem, he said, and the return of the respective ambassadors to Thailand and Cambodia would pave the way for better diplomatic relations.

The Foreign Ministry yesterday sent a letter to the Cambodian interior ministry to ask permission for Thai diplomats based in Phnom Penh to visit three Thais detained at a prison in Siem Reap.

Sanong Wongcharoen, Lim Puangpet and Lan Sapsri were arrested last Wednesday in O'Samach in Oddor Meanchey province, opposite Surin, for entering Cambodian territory illegally.

Surin governor Raphee Phongbuphakit phoned staff he sent to Siem Reap and learned they had visited the three Thai villagers and provided them with food.

Mr Raphee is waiting for a response from the Siem Reap governor after he wrote to him on Friday to seek the release of Thais who unintentionally entered Cambodian territory.

Thaksin is a side show and relations will not improve until the PAD back down over the Preah Vihear temple and surrounding land, which they won't do.

They want both the land and the temple to be ceded from Cambodia, and that isn't going to happen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...-cambodia-role


Thaksin Shinawatra quits role as adviser to Cambodian government

Former Thai prime minister leaves post after nine months

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Monday 23 August 2010 15.18 BST
• Article history

Thaksin Shinawatra: his appointment helped fuel a diplomatic row. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Thailand's former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, quit his job as an adviser to the Cambodian government today, nine months after his appointment helped fuel a diplomatic row. A royal decree signed by King Norodom Sihamoni said Thaksin resigned from his dual positions as personal adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen and economic adviser to the Cambodian government. Thaksin made the move because he had "difficulty to fulfill his duty", a government statement said.


Thaksin was appointed in November last year, and his subsequent visit to Cambodia set off a row in which both countries recalled their ambassadors.


Bangkok was displeased because Thaksin is a fugitive from justice. In 2008, a Thai court sentenced him in absentia to two years in prison for violating a conflict of interest law, but he fled into exile before the verdict. He was ousted by a 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. Hun Sen claimed Thaksin had been unfairly convicted for political reasons.

Thaksin lives mainly in Dubai, and has been accused by the Thai government of seeking to undermine it. In March to May this year his supporters and allies staged street protests in Bangkok, with related violence killing about 90 people and leaving more than 1,400 wounded.

Cambodia's relations with Thailand have been contentious for years, with the focus most recently on a border dispute. Relations worsened since Abhisit Vejjajiva, a political antagonist of Thaksin, became Thailand's prime minister in December 2008.

Abhisit, questioned about Thaksin's resignation, said he was waiting for confirmation. He said if true, it would be a first step toward sending both ambassadors back to their posts.

The Cambodian government said Thaksin drew on his experience "to help Cambodia with competitiveness, especially in the fields of investment, tourism, commerce and agriculture".

Lawyer Noppadol Pattama, who sometimes represents Thaksin, said the former prime minister had been travelling a lot on business and "didn't have time to dedicate to the responsibilities that accompanied the position".

I quite like that picture of him drinking Champagne while the poor are starving in Cambodia

what an advisor

An opinion piece from the Bangkok Post...

Bangkok Post : Back to normal with Cambodia

EDITORIAL

Back to normal with Cambodia

• Published: 25/08/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

It will be interesting to find out in coming days whether fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra quit or was fired as a glorified economic adviser to the Cambodian government.


Either way, the departure of the fractious Thaksin from the scene is a welcome development. On this, the two governments see eye to eye, and the citizens of both countries should breathe a little easier.

The Thai ambassador is heading back to Phnom Penh today, and his Cambodian counterpart will arrive in Bangkok to resume full diplomatic relations.

It is a development that is both welcome and encouraging.

Today will mark the first time since last November that Thailand and Cambodia have had full diplomatic relations. As unreasonable as it seems, the two neighbours broke off relations over Thaksin. But it was not the former prime minister alone who engineered the division between two countries that share a long border, history and culture. There are lessons to be learnt from the past nine months of prickly and downgraded diplomatic relations.

On Monday, Phnom Penh authorities said Thaksin resigned from his Cambodian post because he was unable to fulfil his job. That is possible. It is also possible the Thai fugitive was no longer useful.

Thaksin after all has made no known investment in Cambodia, and has provided no known economic advice that has helped the country. The Thaksin World Tour has been increasingly squeezed, and the red shirt movement is perceptibly leaving Thaksin behind as it focuses on problems at home.

Thailand and Cambodia can now proceed in the proper, responsible way in dealing with problems. In a prelude to resuming diplomatic relations, Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan spoke with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong last week. After that, the prime ministers of both countries agreed to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting in October, in Brussels.

No one expects a breakthrough on the toughest questions, but the agreement to meet in Belgium has an important second agreement. It sidelines the offer by United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon to help mediate between Thailand and Cambodia. No such intermediary is needed.

The biggest disagreement between the two countries is the misnamed "temple dispute" - misnamed because it was settled nearly 40 years ago.

Today, there is disagreement over border demarcation. It is strongly hoped that the Cambodian authorities will do their utmost to hold back both troops and would-be settlers from the contentious 4.6 square kilometres of land near the Preah Vihear temple.

Likewise, Thai authorities must prevent any attempt by so-called "Thai Patriots" to stir up the problem in nationalistic terms.

Now that Thaksin is gone from the immediate scene, Cambodia and Thailand can get down to business in a proper way.

Countries cannot choose neighbours, but respectable nations can choose to deal in a neighbourly way.

Bangkok Post : Sondhi: Thaksin's resignation a scheme


Sondhi: Thaksin's resignation a scheme

• Published: 25/08/2010 at 04:03 PM
• Online news: Local News

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's resignation as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government is only a political game, yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul said on Wednesday.


Mr Sondhi said he believed Thaksin's resignation was part of a political scheme since it can be done immediately by just getting an approval.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen can show sincerity by handing back a number of people charged with terrorism like Mr Arisman Pongruangrong, who are allegedly hiding in Cambodia, to Thai authorities. The two countries would be considered good neighbours after Cambodia returned all of them to Thailand, the PAD leader said.

"If Hun Sen fails to do so, then it means he is hiding his real intention," he said.

Mr Sondhi said Thaksin had been quiet for some time as he could be plotting to take action against the government and create problems to Thai people.

"I will never trust the situation and I believe Thailand will shortly be down in flames because Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is not resolute in his decisions.

"It is dreadful that Thai people let red-shirt leader and Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan ramble all the time," he said.

Mr Sondhi said he would agree with Mr Jatuporn if he used reasons and logic.


When Thaksin was running the government, he was the centre of corruption. But in the Abhisit administration, corruption spread to to all ministries, he said.

"I believe there is more corruption now than during the Thaksin administration," he said.

Nice to see BettyBoo and Sondhi agreeing...

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

When Thaksin was running the government, he was the centre of corruption.

But in the Abhisit administration, corruption spread to to all ministries, he said.

"I believe there is more corruption now than during the Thaksin administration," he said.

hows them apples ?

^Consider the source maybe? Also, how would he know...?

BP: Can hardly disagree because back in 2008 BP blogged that corruption was more centralized under Thaksin because power was centralized under Thaksin. Now, with a weaker PM and more power for the factions, more people have fingers in the pie.

Stories: Bangkok Pundit | Asian Correspondent

Here's a heads up on the infamous Mr Sondhi....

Yes, I'd trust him....

Thailand for YOU - Who is Sondhi Limthongkul


Sondhi Limthongkul Profile Name: Sondhi Limthongkul



Date of Birth: 7 November 1947 Place of Birth: Bangkok Religion: Buddhist Nationality: Thai Profession: Journalist, Media Mogul Activity: Political Activist, PAD Founder & Leader Timing: 2006-2008 Education: • University of California, L.A., U.S.
• Utah State University, U.S. (1972)
• Honorary Doctorate, Chiang Mai University Background: • Reporter, Prachatipatai (Democracy) (1973-1974)
• Founder, Editor of Advance Media Group (1976)
• Publisher, Pooying, Women's Magazine (1980-1982)
• Founder, Phoojatkarn (Manager) (1982)
• Publisher, Phoojadkarn Rai Wan newspaper (1986)
• Publishing House, the Manager Group (1997)

Thai Media Mogul and Political Activist

Thai political activist, Sondhi Limthongkul, is best known as the founder and core leader of the popular political movement known as "Yellow Shirts" also called the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). A demagogue, an opportunist and quite a controversial figure, Mr. Sondhi is a Thai media mogul and an outspoken critic of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Actually, he played a key role in removing Thaksin from power and toppling his administration.

Sondhi Limthongkul started his career in the 1970s as a journalist, working as a reporter and managing editor for the Prachatipatai (Democracy) newspaper. After several ventures in publishing, in 1982 Sondhi founded the Manager Daily newspaper, which became his personal mouthpiece. He used the profits to build a publishing, broadcasting, and telecommunications empire. Eventually, he established a publishing house called the Manager Group, as a holding company for his media outlets including daily and weekly newspapers, a monthly magazine, a community radio station and an Asian Satellite TV (ASTV).

In early 1990s, when his Manager Media Group was booming, Sondhi poured money into ventures across Asia, from satellites and hotels to television stations, a regional newspaper, a Hong Kong based magazine and even a cement factory. He also bought several IT and telecommunications firms, including the IEC – exclusive handset distributor for Nokia phones. The major customers of IEC were the two rival mobile-phone groups Advanced Info Service (AIS), which belonged to Thaksin Shinawatra, and Total Access Communication (DTAC).

During that period, Sondhi regularly did business with Thaksin. Before taking IEC public in 1992, Sondhi sold a 17.5% company stake to Thaksin at ฿10/share. After listing, Thaksin sold IEC's shares at ฿250 each, making ฿600–700 Million from that deal. Both men enjoyed success during the boom years of the 1990s. But their fortunes diverged drastically after the government floated the Thai baht in July 1997, setting off the downward spiral that became an Asian Financial Crisis.

Thaksin's Shin Corporation came out of the crisis relatively unscathed compared to its rivals. AIS, a Shin subsidiary, quickly came to dominate the mobile-phone market. Thaksin has claimed the company was fortunate enough to hedge its foreign loans six months before the crisis. While Sondhi insists that Thaksin was tipped off to the flotation by government insiders.

In 1996, Fortune magazine had put Sondhi's assets at $600 Million (฿12 Billion). A year later, following the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, Sondhi's empire collapsed, his satellite and publishing businesses crashed, the Manager Group was saddled with ฿20 Billion in debt and Sondhi was forced to declare himself bankrupt for three years.

When his old business pal was heading into serious politics, Sondhi used his media outlets to promote Thaksin's fledgling Thai Rak Thai party, and many Manager-linked figures took on key government roles and plum positions at state-run companies. The editor-in-chief of Sondhi's now-defunct English-language daily Asia Times, Pansak Vinyaratn, became Thaksin's chief policy adviser, while Manager co-founder Somkid Jatusripitak served as Commerce Minister in Thaksin's led government.

With the election of Thaksin Shinawatra as Prime Minister in 2001, several of Sondhi's associates became leaders in the new government. His financial adviser, Viroj Nualkhair, have became the CEO of state-owned Krung Thai Bank (KTB) and gave Sondhi close to ฿1.6 Billion in "debt forgiveness" and arranged for further rounds of forgiveness. Thus allowing Sondhi to emerge from bankruptcy and start his own TV show, 'Thailand Weekly'. Sondhi became a vocal supporter of Thaksin, calling him "the best prime minister our country has ever had."

Sondhi's public criticism or personal vendetta (according to some pundits) against Thaksin started in late 2004. Back then, Thailand's financial world was shocked by the fact that KTB under Viroj Nualkhair as the CEO incurred over ฿40 Billion in bad loans. Using all of his media outlets, Sondhi furiously defended Viroj. However, in 2005, Viroj Nualkhair was dismissed from the KTB.

Sondhi's attacks on Thaksin grew steadily throughout 2005, with weekly denunciations on his 'Thailand Weekly' TV show getting much attention. Under pressure form the Government, his TV broadcasts on Channels 11/1 and 9 were taken off the air. Subsequently, Sondhi took to the streets and started broadcasting his talk show via satellite ASTV and webcasting it on the website of one of his newspapers, doubling the number of website visitors.

In late 2005 early 2006, every Friday at Thammasat University and in Lumphini Park Sondhi hosted his outdoor talk shows about corruption of the Thai government with the slogan, "We Fight for the King". His broadcasts/protests, which later became the core of the People's Alliance for Democracy attracted many participants, with the largest one on 4 February 2006 at the Royal Plaza drawing up to 100,000 protestors. The protests were broadcast online via the 'Manager Online' website generating lots of public attention.

The PAD led by Thai activist Sondhi Limthongkul held huge rallies on the streets of Bangkok that opened the way for the military to remove Thaksin from power in a coup d'état. On 19 September 2006, Thai military led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, overthrew the Thaksin government, dissolved the Parliament, and abrogated the constitution. Thaksin, in the U.S. at the time, was exiled indefinitely, and several members of his Cabinet were summoned for investigation. Shortly after, Sondhi and other leaders disbanded the PAD, claiming it was no longer needed.

After a year of military rule, in which the constitution was amended to the liking of the generals, a new election was held – and won decisively by a self-declared "nominee" for Thaksin. The PAD re-emerged with the goal of bringing down the pro-Thaksin Government. Rallies and protests climaxed last summer when thousands of its members pushed past the police and occupied Prime Minister’s office – the Government House. The "Last Battle", as he called it, exposed a darker side of Mr. Sondhi.

In November 2008, the PAD occupied and paralysed Bangkok’s airports, both international and domestic, and contributed to the fall of the democratically elected pro-Thaksin Government that was replaced by one led by the opposition leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party.

Important events in 2009:
1. On 17th of April, Sondhi miraculously survived an assassination atempt. For details refer to Thai Politics Part II;
2. On 10th of September, the Criminal Court sentenced Sondhi Limthongkul to two years in jail after finding him guilty of defaming Mr. Pridiyathorn Devekula, a former deputy prime minister and finance minister (in Thaksin's administration). Sondhi was freed on bail pending an appeal;
3. On 6th of October, Sondhi was elected as the leader of the newly established New Politics Party. Other top contenders for party leadership withdrew their nominations to pave the way for Sondhi's victory.

A colorful journalist, now and again Sondhi has been criticized for having led the Thai media into disrepute. His credibility, personal and professional, is doubtful to say the least. Not once he was accused by his political foes of the long running jealousy and personal vendetta against Thaksin.