Tue Nov 10, 2009
By Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wanted at home for a graft conviction, arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up a job offer
- Tight security in Cambodian capital for Thaksin's arrival
- Job offer from Cambodia sparked diplomatic row with Bangkok
from the government that has set off a diplomatic row with Bangkok.
"We have prepared nine different kinds of food for Thaksin to enjoy his meals" - Phay Siphan
"Thaksin is now in Cambodia. He flew in on a special flight and just landed at the military airport," said Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian information minister and the top government spokesman.
"We are looking forward to learning from Thaksin's great economic experience and we are convinced that his experience will contribute to our country's economic development," he told Reuters.
The former telecoms tycoon lives in self-imposed exile after being toppled by the military in 2006 and then later found guilty on a conflict of interest charge. He spends much of his time in Dubai.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has made Thaksin an economic adviser to his government and offered him a home in his country.
Witnesses reported heavy security for Thaksin's arrival, with black-uniformed troops carrying rifles deployed on the road into the capital from the military airport.
Thaksin has said he does not intend to live in Cambodia permanently.
It was not clear how long he would remain there on this visit. Officials said he would meet Hun Sen on Tuesday and is scheduled to give a lecture on Thursday to 300 economists at the Finance Ministry.
Another Cambodian government spokesman, Phay Siphan, told reporters that Thaksin would be welcomed with some style.
"We have prepared nine different kinds of food for Thaksin to enjoy his meals," Siphan said.
OUTRAGE IN BANGKOK
Thailand's government is outraged at the Cambodian move, not only because it sees Thaksin as a fugitive from justice but because he now has a base across the border from which to organise his campaign to force new elections and return home.
At a weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, ministers agreed to scrap a memorandum of understanding covering plans for joint offshore development of energy reserves in the Gulf of Thailand. Talks on finalising the agreement have been going on for years.
The chief prosecutor has said he would ask the foreign ministry to send an arrest warrant for Thaksin to the authorities in Phnom Penh. Cambodia has said Thaksin would not be extradited.
The two countries have recalled their respective ambassadors because of the row over Thaksin.
Relations between the two were already strained after nationalist elements on both sides sparked a row last year over Preah Vihear, an 11th century temple awarded to Cambodia by an international court but claimed by many in Thailand.
That dispute has caused deadly border clashes.
(Reporting by Ek Madra; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Martin Petty and Sugita Katyal)
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