Threat to ban Tai goods

ST by Nirmal Ghosh-10/11/2009
Bangkok – The spat between Bangkok and Phnom Penh was in danger of turning uglier on Monday as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen talked of banning Thai goods if Bangkok closes the border between the two countries.

The Cambodian strongman last week enraged many in the Thai establishment by appointing former premier Thaksin Shinawatra as his economic adviser.

On Cambodian TV on Sunday night, he further needled Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, challenging him to call a snap election and saying that the pro-Thaksin opposition party, Puea Thai, would win it.

Mr Hun Sen, who has been in power for close to 30 years, also said that if Thailand closed the border between the two countries, Cambodia would ban all Thai products.

Kyoto News quoted him as saying that Thailand exported US$2 billion (S$2.7 billion) worth of products to Cambodia last year, while Cambodian exports to Thailand totalled US$90 million.

In Bangkok, Mr Abhisit came under pressure from the right-wing People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which presented a list of recommendations on Cambodia to him. Among its demands was that Thailand expel Cambodians from disputed territory and that Thais boycott Cambodian casinos.

Salary reform effort set to target advisers…how much adviser Thaksin get pay?

PPP by Sam Rith-9/11/2009
Prime Minister Hun Sen has issued a directive stating that high-ranking officials who also work as government advisers should not receive two salaries. The directive, dated October 27 and obtained by the Post Sunday, cites the global economic crisis as the main reason for the reform.

“Due to the present economic situation facing the country and the difficulty of the global economic crisis, the government is required to take measures to save the budget,” it states.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said Sunday that the directive specifically targeted officials who are double-dipping from the government’s coffers.

“It means that one official receives only one salary,” he said.The directive applies only to officials from the undersecretary of state level and up. Phay Siphan said the government would begin strictly implementing the directive in 2010.

Data on advisers scarce
Pich Bunthin, a secretary of state at the State Secretariat of Public Affairs, said Sunday that undersecretaries of state receive salaries of about 1.5 million riels (US$359) per month, whereas secretaries of state receive about 1.7 million riels per month.

Neither Pich Bunthin nor Phay Siphan could say how many advisers the government employed or the average salary those advisers received. Pich Bunthin said many top officials employ advisers independently rather than through a government body, which is why the number is difficult to track.

Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said he believed government advisers received average monthly salaries of 2 million riels. He said the reform effort was likely “an attempt to correct the mistakes of unnecessary spending over the years”.

Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said he believed there should be a limit to the number of advisers government officials are allowed to employ.

Exercise restraint

ST-9/11/2009
Djarkata – The Secretary-General of Asean Surin Pitsuwan has appealed to Cambodia and Thailand to exercise maximum restraint and asked Asean foreign ministers to assist the two countries to end the dispute.

Dr Surin informed the ministers that he has received many inquiries and expressions of concern from Asean’s dialogue partners and friends over the apparent deterioration of relations between Cambodia and Thailand, as evidenced in the recalling of their Ambassadors earlier this week.

The Secretary-General said that the dispute could undermine the credibility of Asean, reported Xinhua news agency.

‘We in Asean cannot afford to be seen as being so seriously divided prior to the upcoming Apec leaders meeting and the historic Asean-US Leaders Meeting in Singapore this month,’ he said in a statement received by Xinhua on Monday.

The Secretary-General pointed out that in line with the spirit of the Asean Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-east Asia (TAC) , other Asean members are obliged to offer assistance to help fellow member states settle their bilateral disputes, even when the two disputing parties cannot agree to refer their dispute to any regional means of dispute settlement.

Separately, Dr Surin also told Asean ambassadors at a briefing that the bilateral conflict has triggered anxiety in the grouping, said Xinhua.

Thaksin calls for political reform

AFP-9/11/2009
London – Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra urged the reform of institutions around Thailand’s revered monarchy, a report said on Monday, amid tensions over his impending visit to neighbouring Cambodia.

Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006, said that 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej was above politics but that ‘circles’ around the palace were interfering with the running of the country.

The tycoon is living abroad to avoid jail and gave the interview to The Times in Dubai, but is set to visit Phnom Penh this week in his new capacity as economic adviser to the Cambodian government.

‘That’s the problem in Thailand. The monarchy is not the problem. The monarchy is good for Thailand. Thailand needs to have a monarchy but it should not be abused or played by the palace circles,’ he was quoted as saying.

Asked if the ‘royal institution’ needed reform, he said: ‘Yes, yes.’ ‘I can assure you His Majesty is above (politics), but those in the circle have a network,’ he said.

‘They want to get rid of me because they say I am trying to turn Thailand into a republic and topple the monarchy. That’s not true. I have a very high respect for the monarchy and royal family.’

Junta may free Suu Kyi

AP-9/11/2009
Singapore – Myanmar’s military-ruled government may release pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi soon so she can play a role in next year’s general elections, according to a senior Myanmar diplomat.

The remarks by Mr Min Lwin – rare for a Myanmar government official on an overseas visit – were in line with vague comments in recent years by the junta that it intends to free Ms Suu Kyi soon. But officials have given no time frame and have made no real moves to release her despite hinting they would.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years, and not been able to speak publicly since she was last taken into detention in May 2003. A court recently sentenced the 64-year-old to an additional 18 months of house arrest for briefly sheltering an uninvited American in a trial that drew global condemnation.

That would prevent her from participating in next year’s elections – the first in two decades – unless she is granted a special release.

‘There is a plan to release her soon … so she can organise her party,’ Mr Min Lwin, a director-general in the Foreign Ministry, told The Associated Press at the Manila airport before boarding a flight to Singapore en route to Yangon. He refused to elaborate, and it was not clear if he meant that Ms Suu Kyi would be allowed to campaign.

There is also no indication that the government would allow Ms Suu Kyi to run in the election. Myanmar’s constitution includes provisions that bar Ms Suu Kyi from holding office and ensure the military a controlling stake in government.

Dalai Lama visits Tibet…no place like home

AP-9/11/2009
Tawang (India) – Joyous Buddhist pilgrims welcomed the Dalai Lama back to the Himalayan town he first set foot in five decades ago while fleeing Chinese rule in his native Tibet – a rare trip close to his homeland that has angered Beijing.

The Dalai Lama’s arrival here on Sunday for a five-day trip highlighted a lingering border dispute between India and China, exposed Beijing’s ongoing sensitivities over Tibet and raised questions over who would succeed him as the region’s spiritual leader.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said last week that the trip ‘once again exposes the nature of the Dalai Lama as anti-China.’

The Dalai Lama, however, insisted the accusation was ‘baseless’ and that he was only seeking to promote religious values, peace and harmony. ‘My visit here is nonpolitical,’ he said soon after his arrival Sunday morning.’

In Tawang, the streets were lined with prayer flags and banners welcoming the Dalai Lama and thousands braved the cold temperatures and biting wind to attend his five-day visit of prayer meetings and lectures on Buddhism. ‘It made us very happy to catch a glimpse of him. Nobody is more important to us than him. The Dalai Lama is our god,’ said Karmayacha, who uses one name and traveled with her family from a village 20 miles (32 kilometers) away.

Monks clanged cymbals and sounded traditional Tibetan horns to greet the Dalai Lama as he arrived at the Tawang monastery – filled with fresh orange, white and red flowers – from a nearby helipad and The Dalai Lama smiled and chatted with the gathered crowds.

6 luxury trains for his use…nice to be a communist

AFP-9/11/2009
Seoul – Leader Kim Jong-Il has six special luxury trains at his disposal for travel around North Korea plus 19 stations built for his exclusive use, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.

The trains with a total of 90 carriages are armoured and contain conference rooms, an audience chamber and bedrooms, Chosun Ilbo newspaper said, citing information from US and South Korean intelligence authorities.

It was not possible to confirm the report. But Mr Kim is said to have a fear of flying and to prefer rail travel at home and abroad. He travelled by train on his last known trip to China in January 2006.

Satellite phone connections and flat-screen TVs are installed so the leader can be briefed and issue orders, the newspaper said. The special stations are no more than 30 kilometres (18 miles) from his private retreats, it added.

The train carrying the leader of the impoverished nation is preceded by an advance train to ensure the tracks are safe and followed by another one carrying bodyguards and support personnel, the newspaper said.

About 100 security agents are sent in advance to stations to sweep the area for bombs, and shut off the power on other tracks so that no other trains can move, the paper said. North Korean military planes and helicopters provide security support, it said.

First US-ASEAN leaders’ summit…lure pawns check mate the rogues

ST by Chua Chin Hon-8/11/2009
Washington – The United States will cap a year of markedly increased engagement with Asean with the first-ever leaders’ summit next Sunday.

But it is as yet unclear if the US-Asean summit will become an annual affair, and analysts cautioned against high expectations.

‘Don’t hold your breath for big home runs coming out of that meeting,’ said Mr Ernest Bower, a South-east Asian expert with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

‘I don’t think there will be significant new statements about new money or new training. Being there is what’s important this year.’

The Obama administration has indeed backed up its ‘we are back’ message to the neglected region with several high-profile visits in recent months.

Indonesia was one of the stops when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Asia as part of her first foreign trip in February. She also visited the Asean Secretariat when she was in Jakarta, the first top-ranking US diplomat to do so.

Abhisit defends actions…at Hun Sen’s help

AFP-8/11/2009
Bangkok – Thailand’s prime minister on Sunday defended his actions in an ongoing spat with Cambodia over Phnom Penh’s job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier, saying he had to protect the country’s dignity.

‘All the government has done is for dignity of the country and Thai people,’ said premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, adding that Thailand had acted ‘calmly and carefully’ to deal with the recent escalation of tensions.

Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors after Cambodia appointed Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thailand’s prime minister in a coup in 2006, as an economic adviser.

Mr Abhisit said billionaire Thaksin faced a ‘conflict of interest’, having previously been chief of negotiations in Thailand and now working ‘for another side’.

Thaksin is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but Cambodia said the charges against him were ‘politically motivated’ and vowed not to extradite him if he travelled to the country.

‘Criticising our justice system is unacceptable,’ said Mr Abhisit, although he said he thought Cambodia was ‘misinformed’. ‘Everyone has to protect our justice system’s dignity,’ he added during his weekly television programme.

Thaksin to visit Cambodia…not really

AFP-8/11/2009
Phnom Penh (Cambodia) – Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Cambodia this week in his new role as the government’s economics adviser, the Cambodian Prime Minister told reporters on Sunday.

‘Thaksin will be at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Nov 12, to do a briefing with 300 Cambodian economics experts,’ Mr Hun Sen told a news conference at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors after Cambodia appointed Thaksin, who was ousted as Thailand’s prime minister in a coup in 2006, as an economics adviser.

Mr Hun Sen also announced that he would withdraw an elite unit of paratroopers from disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple, where Thai and Cambodian troops have been squared off in a deadly border dispute since last year.