Hun Sen's rant is 'proof that ties will remain shaky'

Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the personal attacks on him by his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen are proof of why the shaky ties between the two countries cannot return to normal.

But Mr Abhisit said yesterday he would not react to the abuse from the Cambodian leader.

Matters involving Thailand's sovereignty would be handled by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

''We will not let any country violate our territory and sovereignty,'' he said.

Hun Sen wrapped up his three-day visit to the Thai-Cambodia border on Monday by launching a blistering attack on Mr Abhisit on a website.

He accused Mr Abhisit of coming to power undemocratically and of causing trouble with neighbouring countries.

He also said, among other things, that Thai soldiers had entered Cambodian territory.

Hun Sen launched the attack after visiting a military office about six kilometres inside Cambodian territory across from Ta Muan Thom temple in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak.

The Cambodian premier had planned to visit the temple ruins but he was advised by Bangkok to abandon the trip for fear the People's Alliance for Democracy would stage a protest against the visit.

Mr Abhisit said Hun Sen's attack had showed how sour the relations between the two countries had become.

The outburst demonstrated that Thailand had not initiated the decline in diplomatic relations, he said.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the government would not react harshly to Hun Sen's words. Bangkok could opt for a softer approach by having the Foreign Ministry send a letter to Phnom Penh refuting Hun Sen's allegations. The international community would take a dim view of Hun Sen's remarks, Mr Panitan said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said it was unnecessary for the government to react to the outburst.

Mr Suthep, who oversees national security, said he believed Hun Sen made his remarks in a fit of anger after he was unable to visit Ta Muan Thom temple.

Relations with Cambodia soured after Bangkok reversed its position to support Cambodia's application to unilaterally list the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Ownership of the land around the temple is disputed by the two countries.

Ties plunged to a new low when Hun Sen appointed fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his personal adviser and as an economic adviser to his government.

Thailand asked Cambodia to extradite Thaksin when he visited Phnom Penh last November, but the request was denied.