Former PM may discuss oil, gas with Cambodia
Aug 18, 2011
Bangkok Post
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has cautioned the Yingluck Shinawatra government to tread carefully in dealing with fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and to put the national interest before the interest of a single person.
Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul carries a statue of the late well-respected monk Phra Puttajarn To Phromrangsi while a staff member carries a portrait of King Rama V to his office at the Foreign Ministry. APICHART JINAKUL
As it moves into office, the Pheu Thai-led government has been criticised for pandering to Thaksin, the elder brother of Prime Minister Yingluck.
Reports have emerged that the Foreign Ministry has attempted to return Thaksin's diplomatic passport.
Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul also admitted he had asked the Japanese government to grant Thaksin special permission to visit Japan, prompting the Democrat Party to consider legal action against him for helping a fugitive.
Mr Abhisit yesterday called on the government to safeguard the national interest following reports that Thaksin would visit Cambodia for talks on joint development of oil resources in the Gulf of Thailand.
The visit has not been confirmed.
There are reports that Thaksin, along with other businessmen and investors, will travel to Phnom Penh on a three-day junket beginning today to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and its Defence Minister Tea Banh.
They will discuss a plan to jointly explore and develop petroleum resources in the overlapping maritime boundary between Thailand and Cambodia.
Mr Abhisit said the government must ensure that negotiations with Cambodia about disputed land and maritime boundaries are free of conflicts of interest.
Mr Abhisit said there had been talk that the country's maritime interests had become "interwoven" with the business interests of someone close to the government.
Ms Yingluck yesterday dismissed suggestions that Thaksin would travel to Cambodia on behalf of the government.
"It may be a personal trip," Ms Yingluck said.
It is speculated that the trip could be an opportunity for Thaksin, who formerly served a brief stint as an economic adviser to Cambodia, to discuss energy concerns.
Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa yesterday said the government had nothing to do with Thaksin's supposed visit to Cambodia.
Gen Yutthasak said the Defence Ministry is duty-bound to fully protect national interests in the overlapping maritime area.
A memorandum of understanding on an overlapping maritime border area, which is rich in oil and gas, was signed in June 2001 when Thaksin was prime minister.
The main goal of the pact is for the two countries to demarcate territorial waters and jointly explore and develop natural gas and oil reserves in the overlapping area.
On Nov 6, 2009, the previous Democrat-led government revoked the MoU in protest after the appointment of Thaksin as personal adviser to Hun Sen and economic adviser to his government.
State-run news agency MCOT cited an unnamed Pheu Thai party source as saying Thaksin would help the Cambodian government negotiate a plan for the joint development of a petroleum venture in the gulf.
Thailand and Cambodia have long been embroiled in a disagreement over the division of oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Thailand and experts believe the election of the Pheu Thai Party has made a solution to the disputed zone more likely.
But despite the reports of Thaksin's plans, many in Phnom Penh were unaware of the reported visit from Thaksin, according to the Phnom Penh Post.
Prak Sokhon, an adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong both could not confirm the visit.
Thaksin could visit Cambodia any time he wanted, Koy Kuong said.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, said "Thaksin is rushing to show the world that he is the de facto prime minister of Thailand. He will be in Japan this week, again, to show that he has been a legitimate leader."
Meanwhile, Thaworn Senneam, a Democrat MP from Songkhla, said the party's lawyers planned to file a complaint against state authorities involved in assisting Thaksin.
They could face charges of dereliction of duty if they fail to enforce the law in bringing Thaksin back to face justice, Mr Thaworn said.
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