ID :
142359
Thu, 09/16/2010 - 18:18
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/142359
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Deputy PM Suthep: Saudi Arabia unhappy with Thailand's explanation of senior police officer's promotion
BANGKOK, Sept 16 - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday conceded that Saudi Arabia is not happy with the Thai government's clarification regarding the promotion of a senior police officer allegedly involved with the disappearance of a Saudi businessman 20 years ago.
The deputy premier made the comments on the renewed diplomatic row between Thailand and the Gulf country as he explained the case to the House Committee on Laws, Justice and Human Rights at Parliament following the Saudi reaction to the promotion of Provincial Police Region 5 Commander Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom as new assistant national police chief.
Saudi Charge d'Affaires in Thailand Nabil Hussein Ashri was also present at the meeting.
Thailand's Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) early this year indicted five police officers and an ex-police officer including Gen Somkid in connection with the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990.
Mr Suthep said the government has explained the latest promotion of police officers to the Saudi charge d' affaires, while he conceded that the Saudi top diplomat was not satisfied with the explanation.
The deputy prime minister reaffirmed, however, that the Thai government will strictly follow the law and that it does not want Gen Somkid's promotion to affect the relations between the two countries.'
He stated that any third party intervention to clear the air between Thailand and Saudi Arabia was not needed. The Thai foreign ministry is duty-bound to clarify the matter to the Saudi government.
When asked whether the dissatisfaction of the Saudi government will affect the travel of Thai Muslims to attend the Hajj in Mecca during this period, Mr Suthep said until now no disruption has occurred and the Thai foreign ministry will handle the matter.
Saudi Arabia earlier issued three statements opposing the controversial promotion fearing that it will affect the investigation of Mr al-Ruwaili's disappearance, but Thailand stood by its decision, saying it will be able to explain the reasons of the promotion to the Saudi government.
The case dates back to the late 1980s when Kriangkrai Techamong, a Thai worker employed in the palace of a Saudi prince, stole jewellery from the palace and escaped to Thailand.
The Thai police retrieved some of the stolen items and returned them to Saudi Arabia. However, the centrepiece jewel, the "Blue Diamond", was later found to have been replaced with an artificial stone.
Although a Thai police general has been imprisoned for his involvement in the scandal but the overall case remains unresolved, including the murder of several Saudi diplomats and Mr al-Ruwaili's disappearance, resulting in the downgrading of Thailand's diplomatic relations with Saudi to the charge d'affaires level.
Gen Somkid has been the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who was believed to have held vital information on the murder of four Saudi diplomats in Bangkok.
The businessman was last seen in a car with Saudi consul Abdullah al-Besri on February 12, 1990, and was reported missing three days later. His car was found abandoned in the Bangkok Christian Hospital's parking lot and the consul was murdered after being seen with Mr al-Ruwaili. (MCOT online news)
The deputy premier made the comments on the renewed diplomatic row between Thailand and the Gulf country as he explained the case to the House Committee on Laws, Justice and Human Rights at Parliament following the Saudi reaction to the promotion of Provincial Police Region 5 Commander Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom as new assistant national police chief.
Saudi Charge d'Affaires in Thailand Nabil Hussein Ashri was also present at the meeting.
Thailand's Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) early this year indicted five police officers and an ex-police officer including Gen Somkid in connection with the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990.
Mr Suthep said the government has explained the latest promotion of police officers to the Saudi charge d' affaires, while he conceded that the Saudi top diplomat was not satisfied with the explanation.
The deputy prime minister reaffirmed, however, that the Thai government will strictly follow the law and that it does not want Gen Somkid's promotion to affect the relations between the two countries.'
He stated that any third party intervention to clear the air between Thailand and Saudi Arabia was not needed. The Thai foreign ministry is duty-bound to clarify the matter to the Saudi government.
When asked whether the dissatisfaction of the Saudi government will affect the travel of Thai Muslims to attend the Hajj in Mecca during this period, Mr Suthep said until now no disruption has occurred and the Thai foreign ministry will handle the matter.
Saudi Arabia earlier issued three statements opposing the controversial promotion fearing that it will affect the investigation of Mr al-Ruwaili's disappearance, but Thailand stood by its decision, saying it will be able to explain the reasons of the promotion to the Saudi government.
The case dates back to the late 1980s when Kriangkrai Techamong, a Thai worker employed in the palace of a Saudi prince, stole jewellery from the palace and escaped to Thailand.
The Thai police retrieved some of the stolen items and returned them to Saudi Arabia. However, the centrepiece jewel, the "Blue Diamond", was later found to have been replaced with an artificial stone.
Although a Thai police general has been imprisoned for his involvement in the scandal but the overall case remains unresolved, including the murder of several Saudi diplomats and Mr al-Ruwaili's disappearance, resulting in the downgrading of Thailand's diplomatic relations with Saudi to the charge d'affaires level.
Gen Somkid has been the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who was believed to have held vital information on the murder of four Saudi diplomats in Bangkok.
The businessman was last seen in a car with Saudi consul Abdullah al-Besri on February 12, 1990, and was reported missing three days later. His car was found abandoned in the Bangkok Christian Hospital's parking lot and the consul was murdered after being seen with Mr al-Ruwaili. (MCOT online news)
