Thailand recalls Ambassador to Cambodia in protest of Thaksin being named economic advisor

6/11/2009
SOURCES: Bangkok Post

Thaksin Shinawatra in the US - Copyright - Wikimedia Commons, US Government, Public Domain

According to the Bangkok Post, Thailand has recalled their Ambassador to Cambodia after learning that deposed and exiled ex-Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra has been named as an economic advisor to the Cambodian government. With tensions running high with Cambodia since the Preah Vihear Temple standoff between Thailand and Cambodia (both Thailand and Cambodia claim ownership of this 11th century temple), it's hardly likely this will improve Thailand's relations with Cambodia. Also, with past negotiations with Cambodia being unsuccessful, it's also unlikely Cambodia will deny Thaksin Shinawatra the job, regardless of what the Thai government thinks.

Ex- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was deposed as Prime Minister of Thailand in a military coup in September 2006. Ostensibly because of 'corruption' it now looks more like Thaksin simply had more power than the military and the Thai elite liked and so something had to be done about it. A military coup was the result. Thaksin was in New York City at the time and, on his return to Thailand several months later, it became obvious he was likely to be jailed so he fled the country. Since then, Thaksin has been more of a wanderer than anything else, living in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and even a couple of Arab countries, trying to find a country that will take him in and also refuse the extradition demands of the Thai government. (Thaksin has been given a 2-year jail sentence in absentia, which will be carried out were he to return to Thailand).

The Cambodian government has announced also that all charges against Thaksin are 'politically motivated', a fact that millions of Thais agree with. Thaksin was extremely popular in Thailand with the poor and disenfranchised, who are still rallying in enormous demonstrations every month in an effort to get him to return. Unfortunately, Thailand is also split between the 'have nots' (which is most of the country) and who support Thaksin, and the 'haves' (which is the Bangkok elite), who have the political power, so these pro-Thaksin demonstrations are likely to continue for months to come.

As an expat living in Thailand for the last seven years, it will be interesting to see what Cambodia decides to do next. Sentiment in Bangkok though is either completely for Thaksin and supportive of the Cambodian government's move, or agreeing that the Cambodian government only did this to make the current Thai government angry. They seem to have succeeded.