By MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR / IPS WRITER

BANGKOK — The relationship between Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand and Cambodia enters another uneasy stretch following a round of verbal salvoes fired before and during a just concluded regional summit, where much is made of strides in achieving unity.

The Thai media had also stepped into the fray to take on the comments made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that appeared to get under the skin of the Thai government, host of the 15th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which ran from Oct. 23-25.

A demonstrator holds a banner with pictures of exiled former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during a rally outside the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok on October 27. (Photo: Reuters)

On Tuesday, one Thai commentator described Hun Sen as a “big bully” for the remarks he made just before flying into Cha-am, the resort town south of Bangkok where the Asean summit was held, and soon after he landed.

“Hun Sen Shows Lack of Class and Tact,” declared the headline of an editorial in a Sunday newspaper. It seethed with anger about the Cambodian leader’s “provocative remarks.”

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Published: 26/10/2009 at 01:55 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

A small group of senators on Monday called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to issue a formal response to Cambodian leader Hun Sen’s ”unethical” action in using the Asean summit forum to show his personal support for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Senators Paiboon Nititawan, Khamnoon Sithisamarn and Sumon Sutaviriya said at a press conference that the prime minister’s verbal responses were not enough. He should also issue a formal statement on the Cambodian prime minister’s unethical use of the international forum in Hua Hin.

Mr Khamnoon said the PM’s statement should adhere to diplomatic principles but at the same time clearly show Thailand’s standpoint regarding Thaksin.

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By REUTERS
Published: October 21, 2009
Filed at 11:53 a.m. ET

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has offered to host his “eternal friend,” fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, at any time, state television reported on Wednesday.

Hun Sen conveyed his message to Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a Thai political heavyweight and close Thaksin aide, in comments likely to rile a Thai government anxious to minimise the billionaire’s influence from exile.

State-run TVK said Hun Sen described Thaksin, ousted in a 2006 coup, as an “eternal friend” and said he had a residence in Cambodia waiting for him.

“Thaksin is a political victim and I take pity on him,” Hun Sen told reporters after meeting Chavalit, a key member of the pro-Thaksin Puea Thai party, in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

Hun Sen pledged his support for Puea Thai, Thailand’s main opposition and the latest incarnation of Thaksin’s disbanded mass Thai Rak Thai party.

His comments came on the eve of a summit of Asian leaders in Hua Hin, Thailand, where Hun Sen is due to meet his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose fragile government is battling to survive amid mass protests by Thaksin’s supporters.

MOUNTING TENSIONS

Hun Sen caused a stir this month when he ordered troops to shoot any Thai crossing illegally into Cambodia, as nationalist tensions mounted over an 11th century temple the two countries have fought over for decades.

Hun Sen previously threatened to boycott the Hua Hin meeting over the temple row, but has confirmed he will attend, while missing Friday’s opening ceremony.

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