Kaewsun Atibodhi, a former member of the defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC), testified yesterday as a prosecution witness before the Supreme Court in the case in which fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra is accused of being unusually wealthy.

If found guilty, Thaksin could see Bt76.6 billion in assets seized, if the money is deemed to have been acquired improperly.
Kaewsun told yesterday’s hearing an AEC investigation found that Thaksin and his then-wife, Khunying Pojaman, still held shares in companies based overseas – Ample Rich and Win Mark – although they claimed to have “sold” the shares to members of their family, including their son and daughter.

Under the constitution at the time, it was against the law for Cabinet members or their spouses to hold more than 5 per cent of shares in any company.
Kaewsun told the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders that Thaksin and Pojaman were found to hold more than 5 per cent of shares in the two companies when Thaksin was serving as prime minister.

He said that shares in the two companies were transferred to many family members but the money earned from the sale of the shares eventually went into Pojaman’s bank accounts.
During a cross-examination by Thaksin’s lawyers, Kaewsun’s qualification as an AEC member was questioned because he had earlier written a book critical of Thaksin. Kaewsun said he made the criticism sincerely due to Thaksin’s action and that he had no personal grudge against him.

Thaksin’s lawyers were told by the court not to repeat their questions too often. They said they did that because they could not understand Kaewsun’s answers. The court told them his answers were well understood by judges and that the lawyers might have to look at themselves for failing to understand.
The AEC was set up after the coup in September 2006 to investigate alleged corruption by Thaksin and members of his Cabinet. A number of cases investigated by the AEC have since gone to court.

Known as Cambodia’s “Wild West” with its corrupt immigration officials, visa scams, crooked cops, prostitutes, illegal logging and gambling, Koh Kong could gain new notoriety if Thaksin Shinawatra’s ambitious development plans go ahead.

His arrival to a hero’s welcome in Phnom Penh, where he yesterday praised “generous laws” regarding foreign ownership during an address to Cambodian businessmen and economists, was seen by many as a big step toward making all-out inroads into the country. With Thaksin reportedly already granted a large-scale investment licence in the area lasting 99 years, Koh Kong could soon become a big thorn in Thailand’s side.

Would Koh Kong become a virtual government in exile or will it become “Thaksin’s Singapore”? Thai intelligence is paying serious attention to all such rumours. Though a source close to Thaksin denies that the fugitive has any plans concerning Koh Kong, the warm hospitality displayed by his Cambodian hosts and their hostility toward the Thai government suggests that the wild frontier would always be kept open for him.

Apart from having Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as his best friend, Thaksin has another good connection in Koh Kong – Pat Supapa, who is chairman of the Koh Kong International Resort Club and one of the richest business people in Cambodia having won several lucrative state concessions. He was one of the high-profile citizens who welcomed Thaksin.

It is these solid political and business friendships that have lent new weight to rumours that Thaksin was in Koh Kong while hardline red-shirted protesters were running riot in Bangkok in April.

Thaksin’s government played a large role in the construction of a road between Koh Kong and Phnom Penh, and while in power he oversaw a booming border trade, with Thai goods reaching the Koh Kong port – outstripping land transport in great volumes.

If Thaksin really wants to build a presence in Koh Kong, he could be provocatively close to Thailand. With enough cash, a 2,000-square metre plot – earmarked to be an industrial estate that only about two kilometres from an immigration checkpoint – can be turned into anything with the blink of an eye.

Yet the source close to Thaksin insists the former prime minister has decided to put his plans to invest in Koh Kong in the deep freeze because the diplomatic row between the two countries has convinced him that this was not the right time to invest.

However, the source did admit that he had not spoken to Thaksin since he arrived in Phnom Penh, adding that the ex-PM had proposed the idea of building an entertainment-casino complex in Koh Kong to his friends in the Mideast but they had shown no interest.

“It is quite confirmed that he [Thaksin] has frozen the idea,” the source said.

The town of Koh Kong once was part of Trat province under Siam in the 18th century. King Mongkut (Rama IV) named this eastern outpost “Prachanta Khiri Khet”, which rhymes with Prachuap Khiri Khan in the Thai South. Coincidentally, the two cities share the same latitude. Koh Kong was later a French colony in 1934.

With the opening of the Thai-Cambodian bridge across the river and building of several casinos near the border, Koh Kong province has become better known among tourists.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: — Thai and Cambodian diplomatic flares again Thursday after Cambodia expels a first secretary of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry ordered one of the Thai Embassy’s the first secretaries to leave the country within 48 hours, starting from 5pm.

Learning of the order, the Thai side countered by expelling the first secretary of the Cambodian Embassy in Phnom Penh and ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours, starting from 5pm, said Thai government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thursday that the Cabinet will not deliberate a project to grant aid worth Bt31 million to Cambodia.
The project was initially scheduled to be considered by the Cabinet on Tuesday.
Suthep said the project would be indefinitely suspended.

Phnom Penh – Thailand’s fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said at a seminar in Phnom Penh Thursday that his domestic political opponents are suffering from “false patriotism” in their disagreements with Cambodia.

Addressing a mix of 250 government officials and business people at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Thaksin said a more prosperous Cambodia would mean opportunities for Thailand as well.
“A prosperous neighbour means better opportunities for us to grow together,” he said, but added: “Of course, not all my compatriots see it that way right now.”
“I do not believe those who do not share our vision now are myopic,” he said. “Their domestic political compulsions force them to false patriotism. Let’s pray that they too will one day appreciate this partnership for progress.”

Thaksin was addressing the seminar in his capacity as economic adviser to the Cambodian government, an appointment that has riled Bangkok and led relations between the two kingdoms to their lowest point in years.
Both countries’ ambassadors were recalled last week, and relations could yet worsen.
Cambodian Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Koung said the ministry had no official knowledge of the visit and was looking into the report’s veracity.

However, Koy Koung said if news of the visit were true, it should not be seen as Thaksin engaging in politics on Cambodian soil. Phnom Penh has repeatedly stated that Thaksin would stay away from politicking since it would conflict with Cambodia’s constitution.
“If they really come, I think it’s just a private courtesy call,” Koy Koung said. “I guarantee that Thaksin has come to Phnom Penh just as an economic adviser. Not (for) politics. Not (for) anything else.”

He said Phnom Penh was “absolutely not” concerned whether Bangkok read the situation differently.
“It’s up to the Thai side because the Cambodian side has reiterated that the Thaksin role is an economic matter,” he said.
Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before being toppled in a bloodless coup, faces a two-year jail sentence in Thailand for abuse of power. He has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai, since August 2008.

On Wednesday Cambodia formally rejected an extradition request from the Thai government for Thaksin, describing the former premier’s conviction in a Thai court as politically motivated.
Thaksin was overthrown after he lost the backing of Thailand’s Bangkok-based middle class and political elite. He remains popular with the poor because of his populist economic policies.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen’s recent interview showed no love lost between him and the current Thai government.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen meets the press and following is an excerpt of his conversation.

Problems with the Thai-Cambodia bilateral ties:
The problem with Thai-Cambodia relations is really a problem between myself and Khun Abhisit (Vejjajiva), the prime minister of Thailand. Before anybody speaks about this, they need to understand that I have been working in politics when the Thai prime minister was still a child.

Border closing:
If you want to close the border, close it. Cambodia will take up action in response. Cambodia will close the border, as well as shut out economic activities as well. Even one mouse will not be permitted to cross the border. We can get Thai goods through other countries. In 2008, Thailand exported US$2 billion to Cambodia – but Cambodia exported only US$90 million to Thailand. I don’t want to close the border as it would affect the people, but the Thai prime minister is making threats.

Appointing Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser:
I want to be clear to all Thai people that the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is the one making an issue out of this. Cambodia has appointed a number of foreigners as economic advisers in the past, including Koreans and Australians and I don’t see what the prime minister is afraid of. I have explained to the Asean meeting in Hua Hin, and I have been very patient about it, but I have been at the receiving end of Thailand’s attack. It was Abhisit who went on and invalidated the MoU (on joint development of overlapping territory in the Gulf of Thailand).

Who is really serving whom?
Khun Abhisit is alleging that Thailand’s dignity is at stake. But I want to tell you that the “red shirts” support this appointment (of Thaksin) but the “yellow shirts” don’t. And there are those who are remaining quiet about this whole thing. These people know that the Hun Sen government is a good administration. My government is not being used by anybody. I think it’s Abhisit who has become a tool of Thaksin. Whenever Thaksin opens up on certain issues, it is Abhisit who reacts accordingly and acted without thinking about the interests of the country and its people. He is using personal reasons to cancel cooperation between two countries. Can Thai people live with a leader like this? Can a person like this lead Asean? Asean will eventually become one market and possibly one currency but it’s Thailand who is behaving aggressively against Cambodia. During the Angkor civilisation there were accusations that Thailand had lost territory to Cambodia. Study your history and you will see who is the real aggressor.

What can Asean do?
Cambodia is prepared to negotiate any place, any time, in a bilateral or multilateral setting. But it appeared that Thailand has already decided that this is not going to happen. Asean Secretary-General Surin (Pitsuwan) needs to understand that it has to be comprehensive and should include the 19 September 2006 coup (against Thaksin), the overlapping claims along the border, the appointment of Thaksin as economic advisor. You can use whatever mechanism you want, Cambodia is ready. I helped safe Thailand and Abhisit’s face by not talking about this at Asean Summit in Hua Hin. You want to solve this problem you should go to the beginning. If this is about appointing Thaksin, then we need to all the way back to the 19 September coup. If Ahisit is so capable, why not dissolve the Parliament and call for a new election. What is he afraid of? I am the prime minister of Cambodia who received two-third of the vote and how much vote did Abhisit received or did he stole his seat from other people? If so how do you expect to respect you?

Insulting Thailand
Abhisit is faced with all kinds of problems. He could die from it. He has problem with all his neighbours, including Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar. Moreover, he has problem with the yellow shirt, the red shirt and the blue shirt and the white shirt. Even the yellow shirt are not united among their own kind. What due respect does Cambodia has to give Thailand? Appointing Thaksin has nothing to do with Thailand? I have told Abhisit that Thaksin is my friend. Friend don’t betray friend.

About disrespecting Thailand’s judicial system:
There is nothing in the Thai judicial system that is worth respecting. In the past Khieu Samphan, Nuan Chea was residing in Cambodia before they relocate to Cambodia. This was not only a violation of international laws and norms, Thailand even endorse Khmer Rogue and the peace process. I want the Thai people to know that the government don’t even respect international law and so how can we even respect Thai judicial system?

On Preah Vihear Temple:
We negotiated with Thailand three times. We agreed to solve the problem peacefully. But the agreement they signed was erased with their feet. Thailand obstructed Thailand’s bid (for Unesco World Heritage) and has the nerve to say that it has nothing to do with Cambodia. It’s like they are calling us stupid. Thailand has used Preah Vihear as a hostage and used it to take down a government. I have asked Parliament President Chai Chidchob for help but he said the issue has passed the Parliament. Thailand politicised this issue at the expense of prolonging the problem.