Cambodia strains ties even more
All Thai staff banned from air traffic office
* Published: 19/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: _News_
(http://www.bangkokpost.com/advance-search/?papers_sec_id=1)
Cambodia intensified the diplomatic spat with Thailand yesterday when
authorities in Phnom Penh expelled all Thai officials from their offices at
Cambodia Air Traffic Services.
The order by the Cambodian government came after Phnom Penh filed charges
yesterday against Sivarak Chutipong, a Thai engineer working for CATS.
"Cambodia has charged him with stealing classified information affecting
national security," said Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, the secretary to the
foreign minister.
The Cambodian government ordered Thai nationals working for CATS to
immediately leave the company and prohibited them from re-entering until the
legal proceedings against Mr Sivarak are completed, Samart Corporation Plc
president Watchai Wilailuck said.
CATS, a fully owned subsidiary of Bangkok-based Samart, has been granted a
32-year air traffic control concession.
The firm employs nine Thai officials at the Cambodian airport, all of them
either in management or senior engineering positions. About 200 other staff
members are Cambodians.
Mr Watchai was told Cambodian authorities would send their own people to
operate the company.
"We need to follow Cambodia's order and are asking the Thai government to
help negotiate with the Cambodian government to solve the problem because it
is affecting a private business which has nothing to do with the state
dispute," Mr Watchai said.
Thailand and Cambodia are signatories to the Investment Protection
Agreement to protect each other's private businesses.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Foreign Ministry has been ordered
to look into the problem of CATS.
Mr Sivarak was arrested on Nov 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential
information about the flight details of convicted former prime minister Thaksin
Shinawatra and supplying it to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
The Cambodian government also expelled the embassy's first secretary,
Kamrob Palawatwichai and Thailand retaliated with the same measure.
The 31-year-old detainee and the Thai Foreign Ministry have denied the
accusations.
Deputy ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said the ministry was helping to
find Mr Sivarak a lawyer. Cambodian law requires his legal representative
to be a Cambodian national.
"The Thai side still believes in Cambodia's judicial process and hopes
Phnom Penh will be fair to Mr Sivarak," Mr Thani said.
Thaksin wrote in his Twitter page yesterday he had contacted Cambodian
leaders to find ways to help the Thai engineer being detained at Prey Sar
prison in Phnom Penh.
"I've been in touch with them. They said they would investigate first and
will treat him fairly," he said in his posting.
Mr Abhisit refused to comment on the assistance by Thaksin to help secure
the release of the engineer and said the government's actions had been
helping to improve the situation for Mr Sivarak.
But Mr Sivarak's mother, Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, thanked Thaksin for his
efforts to help secure the release of her son.
Deputy director-general of the Consular Affairs Department Madurapochana
Ittarong was helping Mrs Simarak and Mr Sivarak's younger sister to obtain
access to him in Phnom Penh.
Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh also offered to help in
talks with the Cambodian government.
Mr Thani said Gen Chavalit's offer was welcome.
The latest conflict between the Thai and Cambodian governments started last
month when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen made Thaksin an economic
adviser to himself and to his government. Thailand was offended when Hun Sen
said Thaksin's corruption case was politically motivated and refused to hand
him over to Bangkok.
The fugitive prime minister left the Cambodian capital for Dubai on
Saturday.
Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan yesterday claimed the Cambodian government
had an audio clip of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya ordering Mr Kamrob to
seek the flight schedule of the ousted prime minister.
But Mr Thani denied the claim.
About the author
Writer: _Post Reporters_ (mailto:[email protected])
Position: Reporters
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