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chitown

Diplomats not supporting Thailand's recall of Ambassador to Cambodia

According to the Bangkok Post on Saturday morning, foreign diplomats from several countries do not support Thailand's recall of their Ambassador to Cambodia. Thailand recalled its Ambassador on Thursday after the Cambodian government announced it was hiring deposed Thai ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.
A European diplomatic source even commented Thailand's recall of their Ambassador could cause significant damage to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially if this stand-off is to continue. With ASEAN meeting this week and with representatives from both Thailand and Cambodia being in attendance the worry is this will affect ASEAN's ability to get things achieved.
Actually, Thailand's withdrawal of their Ambassador is not surprising, as diplomats themselves should be aware. When it comes to Cambodia, Thailand has a history of over-reacting, with the still-ongoing dispute about the 11th century temple a prime example. Troops massed on the Thai border and even some random shots were reported. This all over a temple that is patently on Cambodian ground and has been ruled by several international bodies as being the property of Cambodia. But, with Thailand having always treated Cambodia like a third-class citizen, it's not surprising their latest round of 'diplomacy' came to this.
As for ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he is a master of manipulation and current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is playing into his hands by reacting to every small thing he does. Abhisit though is a novice at politics and, rumor is, he is being controlled by other people more powerful in Thailand. If only Abhisit would ignore what Cambodia is doing, it would give Thaksin even less support. But with his anger over the Cambodian decision to hire Thaksin as an economic adviser, he is only elevating Thaksin's importance and keeping his name in front of the millions of people in Thailand who still support Thaksin.
Thailand itself has asked for foreign governments to pressure Cambodia to extradite Thaksin when he appears in the country but, as diplomats are already saying Thailand is going about this the wrong way, and as many countries didn't think Thaksin should have been deposed by a military coup in the first place, it's highly unlikely Thailand will get much support for this request.

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dirtydog

It would be interesting to find out how many extradition treaties Thailand actually couldn't be bothered to sign, there has been several countries now that they have approached about extradition and been told that they never signed an agreement, laziness or just sheer incompetance?

PattyFlipper

According to the Bangkok Nation website:

"At present, Thailand has extradition treaties with 14 countries - the US, UK, Canada, China, Belgium, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Fiji, and Australia."

Although (perhaps some of the Aussies here will correct me if I am wrong), I believe Australia does not enforce extradition if the accused is likely to face the death penalty.

Tom Sawyer

^
Nothing happens here unless the priviledged in the bureaucracy find a way to make money from it - before any action is taken, like building train lines, or airports, or expressways (and apparently the Foreign Ministry is the top of the heap for the craven but useless extended families). So in a word NO they couldn't be bothered - no money in it.

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Norton

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.

the dogcatcher

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.

Tom Sawyer

..then it's coupe time..

Not sedan time?

Thetyim

How about some saloon time

the dogcatcher

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