Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra (R) stands next to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen before playing golf at a hotel in Siem Reap, 320 km (198 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh, November 13, 2009. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA POLITICS)PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday played golf with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Siem Reap province, northern Cambodia near Angkor Wat Temple.
Hun Sen flew to Siem Reap Friday morning whereas Thaksin arrived there Thursday afternoon after giving lecture to some 300 Cambodian economists and business people in Phnom Penh.
Thaksin, who was appointed as economic advisor to Hun Sen and his government, arrived in Cambodia Tuesday and has met several times with Hun Sen.
One day after Thaksin's arrival in Phnom Penh, Thai government has requested Cambodia to extradite him, but the request was turned down by Hun Sen's government saying the extraction treaty signed by the two governments does not cover Thaksin's case.
It remains unclear when Thaksin will leave Cambodia, but government sources suggested he might leave on Saturday.
Relations between the two neighboring countries were further strained recently after Cambodia named ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra its economic adviser on Nov. 4. Thailand recalled its ambassador on Nov. 5, and Cambodia followed suit.
Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup for alleged massive corruption and other charges. His supporters say he should be pardoned and returned to power. Since the coup, Thaksin is living abroad to escape a corruption conviction and two-year prison sentence.
| Editor: Anne Tang |
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