Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra accused his country’s rulers of ”false patriotism” as he delivered a lecture in his new role as Cambodia’s economic adviser on Thursday.
The billionaire, ousted in a 2006 coup and living abroad to avoid jail for graft, addressed about 300 members of business and government at Cambodia’s Finance Ministry amid tensions over Phnom Penh’s refusal to extradite him.
”I see a lot of synergy between your country and mine. What is good for you will also be good for my country. Of course, not all my compatriots see it that way right now,” Thaksin said.
”I do not believe those who do not share our vision right now are myopic. Their domestic political compulsions force them to false patriotism,” he added.
Cambodia outraged Thailand on Wednesday by rejecting its request to extradite Thaksin, saying the charges on which the ousted Thai leader had been sentenced in absentia to two years in prison were politically motivated.
Security officials ushered reporters out of the room three minutes into the Thaksin lecture, titled Cambodia and the World after the Financial Crisis, but state television later broadcast his wide-ranging talk.
”If you can build trust and confidence, paper can turn to money. If there’s no trust and confidence, your money can turn to paper,” Thaksin said.
Thaksin later flew to the tourist hub Siem Reap where he was greeted by dozens of weeping, joyful supporters who crossed from northeast Thailand to give roses and hugs to the tycoon as he arrived at a hotel.
He later toured Angkor Wat temple escorted by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguards, but was cheered by tourists and posed for photos with them.
He is scheduled to play golf on Friday with Hun Sen, his long-time ally and friend, officials said.
Thaksin arrived on Tuesday and is expected to leave on Friday or Saturday.
Thai diplomats handed over papers for Thaksin’s extradition on Wednesday, but Cambodian officials promptly handed them back a formal refusal letter.
In Bangkok, about 120 protesters and 30 taxi drivers with their vehicles rallied outside the Cambodian embassy and delivered an open letter telling Hun Sen not to interfere in Thailand’s judiciary, police said.
Dozens of police were deployed at the building.
Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors last week as the quarrel escalated. Bangkok also put all talks and cooperation programmes on hold and tore up an oil and gas exploration deal signed during Thaksin’s time in power.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday also ordered an review of two road construction projects with Cambodia which involved loans of more than 1,4-billion baht ($42-million) to Phnom Penh, the Finance Ministry said.
Abhisit said he was considering further measures against Cambodia, but vowed that his government would not seal off checkpoints on the border and said that the rift with Phnom Pen would not lead to violence.
”I don’t want the situation going out of control,” he said.
Tensions were already high between the two nations following a series of clashes over disputed territory near an ancient temple and the row threatens to mar a weekend summit of regional leaders with United States President Barack Obama.
Twice-elected Thaksin fled Thailand in August 2008, a month before a court sentenced him to two years in jail in a conflict of interest case. He had returned to Thailand just months earlier for the first time since the coup.
But he has retained huge influence in Thai politics by stirring up protests against the current government, and analysts said that in Hun Sen he had found a new way of pushing his campaign for a return to power.
Thailand’s government upped the pressure on Thaksin this week by accusing him of offending the revered monarchy after he was quoted in an interview as calling for reform of royal institutions. — AFP
