ID :
138934
Mon, 08/23/2010 - 20:10
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Ex-Thai PM Thaksin quits as Cambodian government adviser; Thai envoy to Phnom Penh resumes post

BANGKOK, Aug 23 – Thailand's ambassador to Phnom Penh returns to Cambodia Tuesday following Thai ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's resignation as economic adviser and adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said late Monday.

Mr Kasit ordered Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh Prasas Prasavinitchai to return to his post Tuesday (August 24) after the Cambodian government announced it was no longer engaged with the fugitive ex-premier as he quit his controversial posts as adviser to the Cambodian economy and Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Thai foreign minister said Cambodia will reinstate its ambassador to Bangkok. “I’m glad and I thank the Cambodian government for its cooperation to boost bilateral relations,” Mr Kasit said.

French news agency Agence France-Presse reported Phnom Penh said Mr Thaksin stepped down due to "personal difficulties" in completing his tasks.

Cambodia accepted the decision by Mr Thaksin with thanks for his contributions to the Cambodian economy, the statement reportedly said.

Tensions between the two neighbouring kingdoms flared after Cambodia appointed Thailand's convicted ex-premier as its economic adviser and said it would not extradite Mr Thaksin if asked by Thailand to do so.

Thailand retaliated against Cambodia by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh and reviewing cooperation programmes with Cambodia.

Cambodia, however, ignored Thailand's stance, and recalled its ambassador to Bangkok in reciprocation.

Mr Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, was sentenced by Thailand’s Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to a two-year prison term in absentia for a conflict of interest in a Bangkok land purchase case. Mr Thaksin jumped bail and fled the country. (MCOT online news)

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