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Ex-Thai PM arrives in Cambodia | Ex-Thai PM arrives in Cambodia |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has flown to Cambodia to take up a job as economic adviser to the government. | |
The move has deepened a diplomatic rift with Thailand, where Mr Thaksin faces a jail term for corruption if he returns. | |
Cambodian leader Hun Sen offered Mr Thaksin the advisory post on the eve of a regional summit hosted by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. | |
The Thai government has expressed anger and embarrassment over the deal. | |
Having already withdrawn its ambassador from Cambodia, the Thai cabinet has now agreed to scrap joint plans for trade and oil exploration. | |
Ties between Cambodia and Thailand have also been tense recently due to a series of disputes around a cross-border temple complex. | |
Campaign base? | |
Mr Thaksin landed in a small private plane and was then escorted into the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh by a convoy of cars under tight security. | |
Thaksin Shinawatra arrives in Cambodia | Thaksin Shinawatra arrives in Cambodia |
"Thaksin is now in Cambodia. He flew in on a special flight and just landed at the military airport," said Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian information minister and the top government spokesman. | "Thaksin is now in Cambodia. He flew in on a special flight and just landed at the military airport," said Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian information minister and the top government spokesman. |
"We are looking forward to learning from Thaksin's great economic experience and we are convinced that his experience will contribute to our country's economic development," he said. | "We are looking forward to learning from Thaksin's great economic experience and we are convinced that his experience will contribute to our country's economic development," he said. |
Mr Thaksin, a former telecoms billionaire, is in self-imposed exile and spends much of his time in Dubai. | Mr Thaksin, a former telecoms billionaire, is in self-imposed exile and spends much of his time in Dubai. |
He is scheduled to give a lecture on Thursday to 300 economists at the ministry of finance. | He is scheduled to give a lecture on Thursday to 300 economists at the ministry of finance. |
Thailand's government is outraged at the Cambodian move, and at Cambodia's apparent rejection of Thailand's judicial imperative to send Mr Thaksin to jail. | Thailand's government is outraged at the Cambodian move, and at Cambodia's apparent rejection of Thailand's judicial imperative to send Mr Thaksin to jail. |
The tycoon was sentenced in absentia to two years in a Thai jail in a conflict of interest case. | |
The Thai government and its supporters also fear that Mr Thaksin could use his new home just across the border as a campaign base. | The Thai government and its supporters also fear that Mr Thaksin could use his new home just across the border as a campaign base. |
Mr Abhisit's government was appointed after defections in parliament followed a period of military rule since the coup in 2006 which deposed Mr Thaksin. | Mr Abhisit's government was appointed after defections in parliament followed a period of military rule since the coup in 2006 which deposed Mr Thaksin. |
Thailand recalled its ambassador from Cambodia after Phnom Penh said it would refuse to extradite the tycoon because it considered him a victim of political persecution. | |
A government spokesman told the BBC that Cambodia valued Mr Thaksin's leadership qualities and business experience, and that he would be an asset to the country. |