(UPDATE) Thailand recalls envoy to Cambodia over Thaksin job
Agence France-Presse | 11/05/2009 1:01 PM
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BANGKOK - Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia Thursday after Phnom Penh gave a job to fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing its neighbour of interfering in its politics and stoking tensions.
The Cambodian government said on Wednesday night that it had appointed Thaksin as an economics adviser, riling Bangkok, which is trying to bring Thaksin home to face justice three years after he was ousted in a coup.
Ties between the two predominantly Buddhist nations have been strained since July 2008 amid an ongoing border conflict over land surrounding an 11th century temple which has claimed several lives.
"We have recalled the ambassador as the first diplomatic retaliation measure to let the Cambodian government know the dissatisfaction of the Thai people," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.
"Last night's announcement by the Cambodian government harmed the Thai justice system and really affected Thai public sentiment," Abhisit said.
Abhisit said aid to Cambodia would also be halted, but checkpoints on the disputed border between the two countries would remain open and "people-to-people relations would not be affected."
There was no immediate reaction from Cambodia.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen first floated the job offer for Thaksin at a summit of Asian leaders last month, and the official announcement, made by royal decree, came on state television.
A Thai government official said earlier that the ambassador to Phnom Penh, Prasas Prasasvinitchai, would be recalled by Thursday evening in retaliation for Cambodia's "interference" in Thai politics.
"The reason is that the appointment of Thaksin is considered interfering in our internal politics because Thaksin is still actively involved in politics," Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thailand's foreign affairs minister, told AFP.
Thaksin remains a hugely influential figure in Thailand, where he has stirred up mass protests by the so-called "Red Shirt" movement against Abhisit's government in the past year.
The twice-elected telecoms tycoon and former policeman was toppled in September 2006 and is currently living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption.
Thaksin, who is believed to spend much of his time in Dubai, said in a Twitter posting that he thanked Hun Sen for the appointment but still wanted to work for Thailand's well-being.
"I thank His Excellency Hun Sen and I just received a copy which was signed by King Sihamoni. It's an honour. But it's not going to be fun like working to help Thai people out of poverty," Thaksin said.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Bangkok would also press for Thaksin's extradition if he ever goes to live in Cambodia, saying that a treaty between the two nations would cover the former premier's case.
"If they refuse to hand him over then we consider that a breach of an international agreement," he said.
But Cambodia's statement announcing the appointment said charges against Thaksin were "politically motivated" and vowed not to send him back.
The Thai government announced last month that it would strip Thaksin of his royal awards and his official rank from his time in the police force.
The country remains deeply divided between his supporters and his foes. His own allies were driven from government in December 2008 after anti-Thaksin protesters occupied Bangkok's airports.
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