CAMBODIA: SHINAWATRA’S ADVICE AND DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THAILAND

CAMBODIA: SHINAWATRA’S ADVICE AND DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THAILAND

By Paul Arhewe,


The ousted Thailand Prime Minister is in news again. Thaksin Shinawatra, this time, is in news not on commentaries concerning his self imposed exile in lieu of corruption charges against him, but that Cambodia, a neighbouring country to Thailand, chooses to overlook his fugitive status and charges to appoint him economic adviser.
This appointment has already started causing diplomat strain between the two Asian nations. Already, both countries have retaliated in closing their embassies, cutting off any diplomatic ties.
Shinawatra, who is on the run following his ouster from premiership by a bloodless military coup in 2006, avoided his country’s request to face corruption charges levelled against his government. He fled Thai in August 2008 before the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentence him to two years jail term for unlawfully breaking a conflict of interest law while in power.
The present Thai government in October announced that it would strip Shinawatra of his royal wards and his rank during his service as police officer.
Most of Shinawatra’s allies in government were all sent packing during the heat from the anti-Thaksin protesters who occupied Bangkok’s airport for days; grounding all economic and political activities in the country last year.

Thai government has officially written to Cambodia authorities demanding the extradition of Shinawatra; the latter turned down the request, saying Shinawatra is not a prisoner in its own soil. Cambodia government stated in a document that charges against Shinawatra is “politically motivated” and vowed not to extradite him if he decides to stay in Cambodia or to travel in and out to execute his advisory duties.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has gone as far as offering Shinawatra a residence whenever he chooses to assume his advisory post. The Cambodia leader is obviously intervening in Thai’s internal affairs, as his actions and words has confirmed that he will not comply with the extradition treaty with Thailand to make Shinawatra serve his jail term in Thailand.
Hun Sen’s remarks and choice for Shinawatra as economic adviser is seen as provocative and deemed unethical diplomacy towards Thailand. The media in the region are not taking it lightly with him, as it engaged in a face-off with the Prime Minister when he arrived in the venue to chair the 15th ASEAN summit
For appointing Shinawatra economic adviser, Hun Sen is not only meddling into Thai’s domestic affair and threatening its national security but also breaching the agreement reached by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community, which prohibits country members from intervening in other countries’ internal affairs. Hun Sen’s actions raises suspicion and to what ulterior motive he intend to achieve.
The Cambodian leader is obviously sacrificing cordial diplomatic ties between the two countries for favouritism to a friend. In his words: "Allowing Thaksin to stay in Cambodia is virtuous behaviour...good friends need to help each other in difficult circumstances,"

Thailand and Cambodia has suffered a strain relationship since June 2008 from the ongoing border conflict over land surrounding a 10th century temple.

The Thai government is not against the appointment as they see it as a private issue between Cambodian government and Shinawatra, but are pushing that he be extradited whenever he sets foot on Cambodia soil. Thai’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the appointment is a Cambodian matter. In his words: "We don't have to analyse anything, the appointment is a private relationship between Cambodia and Thaksin. It hasn't had any impact on us."
"It's not a surprise. Cambodia has previously hired other foreigners as advisers and it did not cause us any problems. We don't have to worry too much, but if Thaksin happens to be in Cambodia then we have to ask for his extradition." added Suthep.
In ordering the recall of Thai ambassador from Cambodia, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Cambodian government has implicated Thai’s judicial system and effects public sentiment in his country.
However, Vejjajiva insists that the action to recall its envoy is a mere reaction from Thailand and will not significantly affect the relationship of the two Asian countries.
Even thought cross border trade between the countries goes on as normal the Thai government intend to review its cooperation with Cambodia, and calls Cambodia government to explain its actions in relations to Thai’s judicial system.
By the weekend this threat from Thai government, after the recalling of its envoy, create a second blow to its already tensed relationship with Cambodia, where it revoke a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on developing an overlapping maritime area rich in oil and gas reserves in the Gulf Thailand.

Cambodia government sees the whole scenario as an overreaction over its own internal affair. Spokesperson for Cambodia foreign ministry said "The Thai government is trying to mix things up."
The irony of Cambodia’s government position is that it wants Thai to clarify the status of the two countries relationship. It also wants to have a good relationship with Thailand in spite of its glaring actions that is beginning to tear down the already tense relations the neighbouring Asian countries share.
As Obama kicks-off his Asian tour last weekend, this tension between Thailand and Cambodia is one that needs to be resolved, especially as United States and ASEAN seek to mark a milestone in their relationship.