Cambodia – In a never ending quest to irritate his larger neighbor, Thailand, Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, is considering allowing former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to move there. Despite the fact he is wanted on criminal charges in Thailand, ranging from tax evasion to treason. Thaksin was deposed in a bloodless 2006 coup after many in the Thai military and Royal Court believed him to be a corrupt demagogue. Since then, Thaksin has been in communication with factions loyal to him, known collectively as the Red Shirts (National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD)), which have been responsible for several paralyzing mass public protests in Bangkok and other areas. There are rumors that Hun Sen had already built a house for Shinawatra. In response, the Thai government has said it will immediately seek extradition if Thaksin is allowed to stay in the country.
General Chavalit told reporters that he made a one-day visit to Phnom Penh at the invitation of the Cambodian prime minister.
“Hun Sen feels Thaksin is not fairly treated, politically,” he said.
“Despite having contributed to the country, he has no place to stay. Hun Sen is in pain even though he is not a Thai.
“So he feels the need to make it publicly known he and Thaksin have always been friends.”
All I can say is – WOW!
UPDATE: Prime Minister, Hun Sen denies offering Thaksin Shinawatra residence in Cambodia.
“…his spokesman Khieu Kanharith has told reporters.
“He didn’t say that,” The Nation newspaper quotes him as saying.
‘Some people have said we would allow Thaksin to have a permanent home in Cambodia – it’s not true.'”
Myanmar – A high level American fact finding delegation, led by US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, will travel to Myanmar on October 21, ahead of President Obama’s proposed meeting with the junta during next month’s APEC’s conference in Singapore. Campbell with discuss democracy and human rights with the regime, and also meet opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is still under house arrest, as well as representatives from various ethnic minority groups. Campbell reiterated that the Obama Administration would only consider a full removal of sanctions if all suspected 2,000 political prisoners are freed. However, the administration has been hinting that it could make some concessions if it sees positive movements on human rights issues. This carrot/stick approach is part of the the Administrations new initiative to create stronger ties with Southeast Asia. The catalyst for all if this is China, as discussed previously on this blog. Currently, the he US has no aid & development programs or military-to-military exchanges with Myanmar. America also does not have an embassy in the nation, instead relying on a charge d’ affaires, since 1988.
As for China’s part:
Knowing the limitations in its own relationship with Myanmar’s generals, China is reportedly watching developments closely to determine how serious the US and Myanmar are about improving bilateral relations. A US-Myanmar detente would undoubtedly be viewed as a threat to Beijing’s strategic interests in the region. A Myanmar more sympathetic to the US may be less willing to support China’s projection of power into the Indian Ocean and risks negating advantages gained for the security of its sea lines of communication through avoiding the Malacca Straits.
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