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| Thailand Recalls Ambassador to Cambodia |
| UPDATE : 5 November 2009 |
The Foreign Ministry has responded to Cambodia's appointment of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser by recalling the Thai ambassador to Cambodia.
The Thai government will also review cooperation and bilateral agreements between Thailand and Cambodia.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has ordered the Foreign Ministry to respond to Cambodian PM Hun Sen and his administration after Cambodia appointed fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser.
The ministry has decided to recall the Thai ambassador to Cambodia tonight and will review cooperation as well as bilateral agreements between Thailand and Cambodia.
The Thai government affirmed that these measures are diplomatic means to respond to the Cambodian government's move to and do not intend to provoke any standoff.
The Thai prime minister also insisted that such actions will not affect relations between Thais and Cambodians. He also reiterated that Thailand will not close the Thai-Cambodian border.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban earlier said the appointment of Thaksin as Cambodia's economic adviser is Cambodia's internal affairs, in which the Thai government will not interfere.
He noted that the Thai government will submit a letter to its Cambodian counterpart, demanding extradition of Thaksin should he take refuge in Cambodia.
Suthep stated that, in the meantime, the Thai government will check on whether Cambodia's refusal to comply with such a request is violation of international laws or not.
The deputy prime minister went on to say that he believes Cambodia is not ready to jump into a political fray with Thailand.
In the meantime, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya declined to comment on the appointment of Thaksin as Cambodia's economic adviser, asking reporters to wait for the prime minister's opinion.
Meanwhile, Sirisak Tiyaphan, director general of the Office of the Attorney General's Foreign Affairs Department, said Cambodia must hand over Thaksin to Thailand if he is found to be hiding there because there exists an extradition treaty between the two countries.
However, he commented that if the Cambodian government refuses to do so, it must have a good explanation.
Sirisak continued by saying that there were cases in the past in which some countries denied extradition requests from Thailand.
As for Thaksin's extradition from Cambodia, he said nothing can be proceeded at the moment since it is not yet confirmed if the fugitive ex-premier is staying there.
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