Thailand and Cambodia in row over Thaksin ahead of Obama visit
| Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A visit by a former leader to a neighboring country normally stirs little comment. But the arrival here of Thailand鈥檚 former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has caused a nasty diplomatic row between Thailand and Cambodia.
It鈥檚 not hard to see why. Mr. Thaksin, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and lives in exile in Dubai, is scheming to make a comeback in Thailand. He鈥檚 wanted at home on a corruption-related conviction. The Thai government has revoked his passport and sought his extradition.
You might expect Cambodia, a neighbor and fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to assist Thailand in tracking down their man. ASEAN puts great stock in warm relations among its members, who agree not to interfere in each other鈥檚 politics.
But you鈥檇 be wrong.
Far from turning him in, Cambodia鈥檚 veteran Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has embraced Thaksin as an 鈥渆ternal friend.鈥� On Thursday, Thaksin gave a lecture to a roomful of civil servants in his new role as an economic adviser to Cambodia. He has been wined and dined by his host.
As for extradition, Cambodia has told Thailand that it wouldn鈥檛 cooperate, effectively giving sanctuary to a fugitive from Thai law. Both countries have recalled their ambassadors. Tensions have risen along the land border, where a disputed 11th century temple has sparked armed clashes.
Cambodia says that appointing Thaksin as an adviser is its 鈥渋nternal affair鈥� and has nothing to do with Thailand. A spokesman for Cambodia鈥檚 foreign ministry said it was up to Thailand to mend relations by sending back its ambassador.
The row comes as ASEAN leaders prepare to meet President Obama on Sunday in Singapore. There is no love lost between Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Hun Sen, though a public fallout is unlikely, given the occasion and pressure from other members to rub along.
Thaksin denies stirring trouble in Thailand, which is deeply divided over his downfall and subsequent events. 鈥淭hey should not overreact鈥 don鈥檛 want the Thai government to be so nervous,鈥� he says.
鈥淚鈥檓 unemployed. And we鈥檙e friends,鈥� he says, referring to Hun Sen.
Thaksin鈥檚 controversial trip is due to end Friday after a tour Angkor Wat, another temple complex in Cambodia鈥檚 northwest, not far from the Thai border. At least 50 Thai politicians are traveling there by bus to consult with him before he flies off in his private jet.
All in all, much more than a casual overseas junket by a retired politician.
