FM chief heads to Cambodia

FM chief heads to Cambodia

Bangkok Post | 30 Jun 2014  

 

Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow will visit Phnom Penh on Tuesday, with the labour issue at the top of the agenda. 

Mr Sihasak, who acts as foreign minister in the absence of a government, said he will meet Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong during the two-day visit to the Cambodian capital.

The "labour issue" will be a major issue for talks, following the sudden and rumour-filled departure of some 200,000 legal and illegal Cambodian migrants shortly after the May 22 military coup. Other issues are "the political situation in Thailand" and joint border development plans, according to a foreign ministry statement.

It did not mention anti-coup elements or, specifically, Jakrapob Penkair and Charupong Ruangsuwan. The latter are believed to have moved on, but an unknown number of anti-coup elements fled to Cambodia to escape arrest or reporting to military authorities.

Mr Sihasak: Off to Cambodia.

The Cambodian workers returned to their country in a major flow that ended last week. They said they feared a crackdown on Cambodians by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Some have begun trickling back to Thailand since last Thursday, when the junta opened coordinating centres at border crossings in Chanthaburi, Trat, Sa Kaeo and Surin provinces.

Cambodia also allowed refuge to red-shirt members who fled the bloody 2010 crackdown by the army.

Mr Hun Sen said after the coup he would not allow the establishment of a government-in-exile in Cambodia but has not said anything about political asylum.

The junta has assigned the Foreign Ministry as the main conduit to explain the situation in Thailand to other countries, starting with members of Asean.

NCPO chairman and army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday that a new election could be held no earlier than October of next year.