Hun Sen tour sets nerves on edge

ANALYSIS: All eyes are on the Cambodian prime minister as he visits border regions.

5/02/2010
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia is jangling a few nerves with a planned visit to the disputed border region near the Preah Vihear temple this weekend.

Some government insiders regard the visit as ill-timed and designed to advance a political agenda, security sources say.

Hun Sen will visit his troops on the border, near a 4.6 square kilometre area overlapping the border whose ownership is disputed by the two countries.

The government is concerned about the conditions Phnom Penh is imposing for the visit, the insiders yet.

The army had received a letter from Phnom Penh saying Hun Sen would visit Cambodian soldiers along the border from Preah Vihear temple to Ta Moan Thom temple from tomorrow to Monday.

Phnom Penh asked that Thai troops remain in their bases during the visit.

"Cambodia has a hidden agenda. It intends to provoke a situation and make it look like Thailand cannot control the situation," one source said.

The army has replied that the Cambodian prime minister could not bring armed troops into the disputed area or areas under the supervision of the Thai armed forces, the source said.

"Ta Moan is under the supervision of the Thai army. He can make a visit but he cannot bring troops," he said.

Sources say the timing of the visit and the conditions indicate the Cambodian leader's visit could be in pursuit of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's interests.

The Cambodian government appointed the fugitive prime minister as an economic adviser, upsetting Thailand.

The visit comes as pro-Thaksin elements are stepping up pressure ahead of a verdict in Thaksin's asset seizure trial on Feb 26.

Sources said security forces were ready to give Hun Sen a warm welcome, but they would not bow to his conditions.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was briefed on the issue, which would be raised at today's meeting of the National Security Council.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has played down speculation about the visit.

Deputy spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said the government had learnt about Hun Sen's schedule from the Cambodian government.

"Thailand has not opposed the visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen to the border area and the Foreign Ministry will send a high-level official to welcome him," he said.

Mr Thani said the presence of Hun Sen would not affect Thai sovereignty. Instead, it should provide an opportunity to tackle border problems.

"We see the visit as normal practice. The visit will be a good thing as Prime Minister Hun Sen will get an opportunity to learn about problems in the area and speed up border negotiations."

A ministry source said Thai representatives would welcome Hun Sen at all points around the Preah Vihear temple as confirmation that the area around the temple belongs to Thailand.

The visit was similar to a trip to the border made by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya last August.

Hun Sen sent a high-level official to receive him and Thai representatives.

Meanwhile, key members of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are outraged by the visit.

ML Walwipa Charoonroj, an historian from Thammasat University, said it could worsen the diplomatic row between the countries following Thaksin's appointment as Cambodia's economic adviser.

It was also bad for Thailand, which opposed Cambodia's bid to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.

Ownership of the 4.6 square kilometre area surrounding the ancient Hindu temple remains a point of dispute between the countries.