Hun Sen says Thaksin barred

[CrazyExpat]

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen says he will not allow ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to use his country as a political base to attack the government, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban says.

Mr Suthep met Hun Sen in Hua Hin yesterday where the Cambodian leader was attending the opening of the Mekong River Commission summit.

The pair met for 40 minutes. Hun Sen said he would not allow his personal ties with Thaksin affect relations with Thailand.

"He told me that he could distinguish between personal relations [with Thaksin] and national interests," Mr Suthep said.

The deputy prime minister quoted Hun Sen as saying Cambodia would not allow Thaksin to use Cambodia as a base for attacks on Thailand since such activities were banned by the Cambodian constitution.

Hun Sen has criticised Thailand's stance towards Thaksin.

Asked about those criticisms, Mr Suthep said: "That's a different situation, different feeling."

Hun Sen wanted Thailand and Cambodia to put their problems behind them, and said he had instructed military officers along the border to refrain from taking any action that would cause resentment among Thais.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia deteriorated after Bangkok last year opposed Phnom Penh's move to list the Preah Vihear temple ruins as a Unesco World Heritage site.

The situation worsened after Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economic adviser, and refused to extradite him to Thailand when Thaksin paid a four-day visit to Cambodia in mid-November last year.

Both sides recalled their ambassadors.

Mr Suthep said he did not discuss with Hun Sen the matter of when the ambassadors could resume their offices.

"Mr Hun Sen told me that Thaksin is just an economic adviser to Cambodia, but that during times such as these when Thailand is facing political strife, he would not allow Thaksin to enter Cambodia," Mr Suthep said.

"I have asked him [Hun Sen] permission to convey his messages to the Thai people and he agreed."

Hun Sen says Thaksin barred