FORMER THAI prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has flown to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to take up a job as special economic adviser to the government, in a provocative move that has ratcheted up regional tensions between the two neighbours.
From the time Mr Thaksin was sentenced, in absentia, to two years in jail in neighbouring Thailand for corruption, he has been busily trying to work his way back home, using tactics that have done much to undermine the government of ruling prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Mr Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup, and lives mostly in exile in Dubai to avoid the two-year prison sentence. He has been working hard to build on his popularity in Thailand by presenting himself as the saviour of the nation, and has also been making efforts to show his support for the hugely popular but ailing 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej. “It’s time to stop finding scapegoats and start solving the nation’s problems,” Mr Thaksin has said.
Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen offered Mr Thaksin the advisory post on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) regional summit in Singapore, which will include a section hosted by Mr Abhisit. The Thais have said they will start extradition proceedings.
Ties between Cambodia and Thailand have long been fraught – the name Siem Reap, the site of the beautiful temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, means “Victory over the Thais” and refers to a 14th century Khmer victory over their neighbours.
In recent months, tensions between the neighbours have escalated over ownership of another temple, the Preah Vihear, on the border.
The Thai government has already recalled its envoy to Phnom Penh, saying Mr Thaksin’s appointment as government economic adviser and as Mr Hun’s personal adviser was “an insult to the Thai justice system”.
Mr Abhisit has backed up his anger with real threats – saying Mr Thaksin’s position as an adviser in Cambodia meant the cabinet had no choice but to approve termination of a memorandum of understanding on 26,992 sq km of disputed waters, which contain large petroleum deposits.
Cambodia has similarly recalled its envoy to Bangkok and is defiant on its controversial appointment.
“We are looking forward to learning from Thaksin’s great economic experience and we are convinced that his experience will contribute to our country’s economic development,” said Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia’s top government spokesman.
The tycoon’s supporters have repeatedly taken to the streets since he was ousted in the military coup, saying Mr Thaksin is the democratic ruler of Thailand. Supporters of the current government had previously staged demonstrations, including occupying the airport in Bangkok, to force out the subsequent government which was full of supporters of Mr Thaksin.
Since the coup, Thai courts disbanded two parties linked to him, including the winner of the 2007 election, paving the way for Mr Abhisit to form a coalition government.
