Cambodia allows diplomats to visit alleged spy

Thai diplomats were allowed access to accused spy Siwarak Chutiphong (right) in Phnom Penh's Prey Sar prison on Tuesday morning and he was allowed a phone call to his mother (left) - a move welcomed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who said the government now hopes for his early return home.

The Thai charge d'affaires in Phnom Penh and other embassy officials were allowed to visit Thai engineer Siwarak Chutiphong at Prey Sar prison this morning, the foreign minister's secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut confirmed on Tuesday.

It was the first time consular access had been allowed since Mr Siwarak was arrested on Thursday for supplying details of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's flight schedule to the Thai embassy.

On Monday, Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong claimed a Thai embassy official was allowed to visit Mr Siwarak in Prey Sar prison where he was temporarily detained. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said this was not correct and that Phnom Penh had declined to allow a visit.

Mr Chavanond said charge d'affaires Chalotorn Phaovibul reported that Mr Siwarak was receiving proper treatment at the prison.

Mr Chalotorn was talking to Cambodian officials, trying to obtain details of the charges against Mr Siwarak so that defence lawyers could prepare a case.

He said Mr Siwarak was also allowed a five minute phone conversation with his mother Seemarak na Nakhon Phanom in Nakhon Ratchasima. He told her he was being well treated by Cambodian authorities and was in good health.

Mr Chavanond said he saw this as a good sign that could lead to talks to normalise relations between the two countries.

Mr Chalatorn, as charge d'affaires, is temporarily in charge of the Thai diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador, who was recalled two weeks ago.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva welcomed the Cambodian government's response, and said that the government has hopes that Mr Siwarak would be soon released.

"There is hope [for his release], but we have to first follow legal procedures. The precise charges against him are not yet known. I think this should be clear by tomorrow," he said. "This will allow us to follow legal procedure and assign a lawyer to help him."

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga had ordered two high-level ministry officials to travel to Cambodia to visit Mr Siwarak, Department of Special Investigation director-general Tharit Pengdit said.

Deputy justice permanent secretary Pol Col Tawee Sodsong and Suwana Suwannajutha, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, had been instructed to visit him as soon as possible to make sure he is accorded his rights.

The Rights and Liberties Protection Department had also been insructed to liaise with Mr Siwarak's family and the Foreign Ministry to arrange legal assistance.

Thai officials would not attempt to interfere in Cambodia's investigation process, Mr Tharit said.

Mrs Suwana said she would first visit Mr Siwarak's mother Seemarak in Nakhon Ratchasima to find out if she needs any help.

Cooperation with Cambodia 'under review'

All cooperation with Cambodia is being revised following Phnom Penh's official refusal of request to extradite former premier Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

The Foreign Ministry had been instructed to begin the rview.

We was sorry Cambodia had decided not abide by international agreements and law, but Thailand would still not use force against its neighbour.

The border would not be closed, but the government would adopt tougher measures to discourage Thais crossing the border to gamble in Cambodian casinos.

Mr Abhisit spoke shortly after receiving Cambodia's official refusal of Thailand's request to extradite Thaksin. The decision has inflamed tensions over Phnom Penh's appointment of the fugitive former Thai premier as an economic adviser.

Thai diplomats gave extradition papers to officials at Cambodia's foreign affairs ministry early Wednesday but were then handed a note from Phnom Penh denying their request.

"Our diplomatic note answering them is nothing beyond rejecting the extradition request," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said shortly before the exchange of letters.

Cambodia had repeatedly vowed to refuse any request from its larger neighbour for the extradition of Thaksin, saying that the charges levelled against him in Thailand were politically motivated
"Thaksin's conviction is caused by the coup in September 2006, when he was the prime minister of Thailand whom Thai people voted in with an overwhelming majority in accordance with democracy,'' Hor Namhong said.

Pinich Wikitset, assistant to the foreign minister, confirmed that the Foreign Ministry had received a letter from Cambodia refusing extradition.

Mr Panich said the letter stressed that Cambodia cannot send Thaksin to Thailand because the former Thai prime minister was a political, not criminal, convict.

The government would hold a meeting to assess the development. At this stage, the Foreign Ministry would send a reply to Cambodia reaffirming that the court case in which Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail was criminal, not political.

The verdict against Thaksin issued by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions clearly states that Thaksin committed a criminal offence while holding the office of prime minister of Thailand, Mr Panich said.

Mr Panich said Thailand had not yet considered closing the border with Cambodia or taking other measures to pressure Cambodia.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reaffirmed on Wednesday Thailand will not resort to closing its border with Cambodia.

He declined to comment on the Cambodian refusal, saying he would rather wait to see the official reply letter than engaging in a verbal spat through the media.

There were international diplomatic channels that could be followed in this matter, Mr Suthep said.

Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, said the Thai government would not resort "special" measures, such as sending forces into Cambodia to bring Thaksin back to Thailand, because each country has its own sovereignty to protect.

What Thailand could do now was to send an official letter explaining to Cambodia that Thaksin is a convicted criminal, not a political refugee, and that the two countries have an extradition treaty and should comply with it, he said.

Asked about Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's challenging Thailand to close the border, Mr Suthep said a politician's expression of emotion could not be taken seriously.

He said Mr Abhisit's policy is for security agencies to protect Thai sovereignty and make sure that the people along the border can lead happy, normal lives.

Tensions were already running high between the two countries following a series of clashes over a temple on their border and the row threatens to mar a weekend summit of Southeast Asian leaders with US President Barack Obama.

Thailand and Cambodia each recalled their ambassadors last week after Thaksin's appointment, and this week the Thai cabinet agreed to cancel a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on disputed maritime boundaries, covering oil and gas exploration, signed by the Thaksin government in 2001.

Thaksin is due to give a speech to about 300 Cambodian economics experts on Thursday. Cambodian officials have said he will stay in the country for two or three days but is not intending to live there.

Cambodian state television late Tuesday showed Thaksin and Hun Sen embracing, reporting that the Cambodian leader pronounced him an "eternal friend".

Army keeps military attache in Phnom Penh

Relations with Cambodia have sunk to new lows but Thailand is keeping its military attache in Phnom Penh.

The army hopes the military attache will be a key channel for dealing with Cambodia and helping take care of Thais living or visiting there.

"The military attache will be ordered to return home only when ties are in crisis," an army source said yesterday.

Although diplomatic relations between the two countries are strained and there is a continuing border dispute, ties between the two armies remain close.

But the Supreme Command has dusted off the Pochentong plan in case the situation worsens.

The emergency plan was implemented in 2003 when the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was torched. Three C-130 aircraft were deployed to evacuate Thais from the Cambodian capital.

Cambodian soldiers are presently engaged in a military exercise about 10km from the Preah Vihear temple.

A Thai army source estimated 2,000 troops were taking part in war games simulating a border conflict.

The terrain where the military exercise is being held was similar to the area around the 11th century temple, the source said.

Cambodia has 3,000 soldiers at the temple and in the nearby disputed area.

The war games started mid-last month and would end on Nov 15, the source said.

Meanwhile, at Rong Kluea market near Ban Khlong Luk border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district, Cambodian traders closed their stores early yesterday after reports Thailand had recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh.

Thai gamblers visiting casinos in Poi Pet also rushed back to Thai soil for fear of anti-Thai riots like those that erupted in 2003.

Sa Kaeo governor Sanit Naksuksri ordered the chiefs of all border districts to monitor the situation.

Col Wasu Chiamsuk of the Burapha task force told all border rangers in Sa Kaeo to be on standby.

In Chanthaburi province, there were rumours a border checkpoint might be closed, prompting Thai and Cambodian traders along the border to delay their transactions.

Isiwut Tangkiat, chairman of the Association of Chanthaburi's Thai-Cambodian Trade and Tourism, said Cambodian business operators had delayed and cancelled product orders.

The value of products that could not be delivered to customers in Cambodia yesterday amounted to about 100 million baht, Mr Isiwut said.

In Trat's Khlong Yai district, Thais and Cambodians visiting the Ban Had Lek border market continued with their normal routines as neither side had ordered the closure of Ban Had Lek border checkpoint.

Thailand recalls ambassador to protest Cambodia

Thailand on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh in protest at Cambodia's appointment of convicted ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.The Thai government will demand reviews of bilateral agreements and commitments signed between Thailand and Cambodia by both present and past governments, according to the statement issued on Thursday.

Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh Prasas Prasavinitchai is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at 3pm.

The Cambodian government appointed fugitive Thaksin as economic adviser to Hun Sen and the Cambodian government in an order signed by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni on Wednesday.

Hun Sen announced upon his arrival in Thailand in October to attend the Asean Summit that he had offered Thaksin, who he regards as a friend, a residence and a job as his economic adviser.

The Thai Foreign Ministry's decision to recall the ambassador is the strongest protest made in years.

The statement also mentioned that the ongoing cooperation between the two countries would be put on hold for the time being.

Foreign Minister's secretary Chavanont Intarakomalsut said the appointment of Thaksin as Hun Sen's adviser was considered as intervening in the Thai justice system.

"The appointment of Thaksin as the adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is regarded as an intervention in Thailand's internal affairs and an insult to the Thai justice system," he said in a press conference.

The appointment clearly showed that the Khmer premier failed to distinguish between his personal interests and the mutual interests of the two countries, he said.

Thailand needs to make diplomatic retaliation against Cambodia: Abhisit

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday that Thailand needed to make diplomatic retaliation against Cambodia's interference of Thailand's internal affairs.

"The Foreign Ministry has to take action so that Cambodia will learn about the feelings of Thai people," Abhisit said.

"Since Cambodia mentioned our internal affairs, we had to retaliate in line with the diplomatic protocol."

He was speaking to reporters after the Foreign Ministry announce the recalling of its ambassador to Phnom Penh after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra his economic advisor.

The Nation