They also threatened to protest at the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok next month if the Cambodian leader fails to act on their demand.
HUA HIN, Oct 24 (TNA) - Thailand and Cambodia still enjoy good bilateral relations, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya affirmed Saturday, and the kingdom would not let any problem related to a single person harm the good cooperation.Mr Kasit said that cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia
continues and that border trading operates without problems. The two countries are friends and would not let any sole issue affect their good relations.During most of the past 10 months since Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva assumed office, he said, the prime minister had emphasized that he would not let any single issue to obstruct cooperation in other fields.
He said that Mr Abhisit had clearly clarified Thailand's stance regarding former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following the remarks made by Mr Hun Sen.
The Cambodian premier asserted that Mr Thaksin could remain in Cambodia as his guest and could be his economic advisor. Mr Hun Sen added that he was not interfering in Thailand's internal affairs but that Cambodia has the right to exercise its sovereignty and make such a decision.
In response, Mr Abhisit said that Mr Hun Sen may have received incorrect information about Mr Thaksin and should not allow himself to be used as a 'pawn'.
Ousted in a bloodless coup, ex-premier Thaksin jumped bail and fled his sentencing to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok Ratchadapisek land purchase case. The toppled Thai premier now spends most of his time in the United Arab Emirates after his status as a visitor was rejected by a number of countries including both the United Kingdom and Germany.
As for the protest letter submitted to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen by the People’s Alliance's for Democracy (PAD), Mr Kasit said he believed this was the move of some groups, not the whole PAD.
He said some PAD groups may have felt that the Thai-Cambodian border disputes were not going be solved as quickly as they wish, and that they consequently wanted to put pressure on the involved parties.
Led by Veera Somkwamkid, the PAD submitted a letter of protest to the Cambodian leader through the Thai foreign ministry’s Department of ASEAN Affairs, represented by Vitavas Srivihok, which demanded that Cambodia withdraw troops from the contested 4.6 square kilometer area adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
They also threatened to protest at the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok next month if the Cambodian leader fails to act on their demand.
Mr Kasit said Thailand and Cambodia are fellow ASEAN members and should cooperate and live together peacefully. Both countries should observe the same rules and the leaders should not do anything that could lead to misunderstanding.
Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand over the surroundings of Preah Vihear boiled over into violence last year when the temple was granted World Heritage status by the United Nations Educational Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
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