Thai government won't issue statement on Hun Sen's remarks

CHA-AM, Oct 24 (TNA) -- The Thai government has no plan to issue a statement in response to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent remarks that the Cambodian government is willing to allow ousted, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to take refuge in that country, according to Panitan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the Thai premier.

Dr Panitan, acting government spokesman, said the two prime ministers also have no schedule to meet on the sidelines of the current 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit being held in the Thai resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am.

Every ASEAN member wants to see the grouping to move forward and to continue enjoying warm relations, Dr Panitan said. Opinions expressed over the two countries’ politics should be considered as personal and Thailand will not issue a statement.

Thailand wants to solve problems “in a peaceful manner” and to arrive at similar opinions, he said. Thailand doesn’t want problems within ASEAN or with its neighbours.

Mr Hun Sen reiterated on Friday upon his arrival for the ASEAN summit that his government would allow Mr Thaksin, now in a self-imposed exile, to take refuge in Cambodia and that Cambodia would not extradite him.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday said that Cambodian Prime Minister 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 in September 2006, Mr Thaksin has been living in exile, mostly in the United Arab Emirates, after being sentenced to a two-year prison term for abusing his power when he was prime minister to help his ex-wife purchase prime land in Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek Road.