Thaksin Risks His Reputation (online.wsj.com)

Since Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra was forced out of power in a military coup three years ago, he has made a show of traveling the world to keep in the public eye back home. But his latest gambit -- taking up a role as economic adviser to Thailand's neighbor and rival, Cambodia -- threatens to backfire and jeopardize his standing in the country he still hopes one day to lead, analysts say.

On Thursday, Mr. Thaksin, a telecommunications magnate, began his new job by delivering a lecture on economic planning to Cambodian government officials in Phnom Penh, the capital.

PetroVietnam to look for oil in Cambodia (Thanhniennews.com)

PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corp., a member of state-owned Vietnam Oil & Gas Group, plans to explore for oil and gas in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake area.

Under the terms of a contract signed with the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority in Phnom Penh Thursday, PetroVietnam Exploration will do seismic and exploration work in the northeastern part of the Tonle Sap Lake in central Cambodia, according to an e-mailed statement from PetroVietnam.

Hanoi-based PetroVietnam Exploration, which will have 100 percent ownership over Block XV, covering about 6,900 square kilometers (2,664 square miles), can explore for oil for 30 years and gas for 35 years.

PetroVietnam Exploration is also involved in projects in Laos and Myanmar.

PM Abhisit calls an urgent meeting (Bangkok Post)

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called for an urgent meeting with his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban and three other ministers after Cambodia rejected the Thai government’s request for extradition of fugitive ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Other ministers at the meeting were Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul and PM’s Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey.

Reporters were given no indication what they would discuss as the men went in to the meeting.

Indonesia concerns Thailand, Cambodia tensions (CCTV)

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are raising concerns from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Indonesia, says the dispute has to end, and the bloc must return to the usual path of friendship within ASEAN.

Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian Foreign Minister, said, "Tension between Cambodia and Thailand is something we're following extremely closely with a great deal of concern, to be honest, because it affects two fellow members of ASEAN, and we see the deterioration of relations to be in total disconnect with what ought to mark how ASEAN member countries ought to engage with one another."

Situation 'normal' on Thailand's border with Cambodia: Thai army chief (TNA)

Thai army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda affirmed on Wednesday that there has been no military movement along the Thai-Cambodian border by either side, but that in military terms the situation is not worrisome.

Gen Anupong said the military is closely monitoring the situation and avoiding cross-border confrontations after the arrival Tuesday in Phnom Penh of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra to lecture Cambodian economists on his first assignment as economic adviser to the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

He declined to comment on the visit to the Cambodian capital by Mr Thaksin, saying only that as a former Thai prime minister he should know what is appropriate and what is not.

As for Mr Thaksin’s interview with the Times daily in London, considered deeply offensive to the Thai monarch, Gen Anupong said the army will instruct all military personnel to not to redistribute or discuss the article as doing so has legal implications and might cause further problems.

Cambodia refuses Thaksin extradition (AFP)

CAMBODIAN officials handed over a formal letter to Thai diplomats today refusing to extradite fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Three Thai diplomats gave extradition papers to officials at Cambodia's foreign affairs ministry but were then handed back a note from Phnom Penh denying their request.

"Our diplomatic note answering them is nothing beyond rejecting the extradition request," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told AFP shortly before officials from the two countries exchanged the formal letters.

Thai Foreign Minister attends 21st APEC Ministerial Meeting (Mfa.go.th)

On the first day, he will join other ministers for a working breakfast for a free flowing discussion on key challenges facing the region and how to address them together.

During the day, Foreign Minister Kasit is also expected to have bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Australia and the United States of America.

Termination of the Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Cambodia regarding the Area of their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf dated 18 June 2001 (Mfa.go.th)

On 10 November 2009, the Cabinet approved, in principle, the termination of the Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Cambodia regarding the Area of their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf dated 18 June 2001. The Cabinet further resolved to submit the draft negotiation framework for the termination of the MOU to the Parliament for approval. Upon receiving the Parliament’s approval, a notification of the termination will be sent to the Cambodian side through diplomatic channels.

Chavalit: Call a general election now (Khmerization)

The government should call a general election as soon as possible now that it believes its popularity rating is high, Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (pictured) said in an interview with foreign media on Tuesday.

"In fact, I want the government to dissolve the House of Representatives today or tomorrow, since its popularity rating is how so high. This should be done now before major problems occur and become more difficult to solve," he said.

Red carpet welcome to Thaksin's new role (Khmerization)

Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra received a warm welcome on his arrival in Phnom Penh yesterday to serve as an economic adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

After his private jet landed at Phnom Penh International Airport in the morning, he was whisked away in a motorcade to Hun Sen's official residence.

Thaksin's first day in the Cambodian capital began with a series of courtesy calls to senior people in the ruling Cambodian People's Party and ended in dinner with Hun Sen and his family.

It is said he was treated to a nine-course meal of various traditional delicacies. According to Thai belief, nine is considered a lucky number.

Upon landing in Phnom Penh, Thaksin posted a Twitter message saying he had landed, but was "really homesick".

"Tonight I will dine with P M Hun Sen and his family. I want to reiterate that nation, religion and the monarchy are always on my mind," he wrote.

Cambodia reacts to request to annul 1907 Franco-Thai Treaty (Khmerization)

Var Kimhong, Cambodia's chief border negotiator, reacted to the Thai People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) demand for the annulment of the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty by saying that the act will contravene international laws, reports Radio Free Asia.

Earlier this week, a group of Thai hardline politicians from the PAD had asked the Thai government to cancel the 1907 Treaty and annul the 1:200,000 scale 1907 treaty map produced by France and accepted by the then Thai government. Mr. Kimhong said the Thai government cannot annul the treaty and the map because the International Court of justice in 1962 had accepted and used the treaty and the map to reach its verdict which gave ownership of Preah Vihear and the surrounding areas to Cambodia.

Government seeking international community help in capturing Thaksin (The Nation)

Thailand is turning the heat on fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra by asking fellow Asean members and others in the intentional community to assist the government's determination to capture the former premier.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Tuesday besides Asean countries, the Interpol (International Police) and others in the international community have been asked to keep a look out for Thaksin's whereabout and to arrest him immediately and turn him over to the Thai authorities.

Panitan said all the documents along with evidence have been gathered and are ready to be submitted to the Cambodian authorities so they can arrest Thaksin.

Thailand to submit Thaksin's extradition request Wednesday (The Nation)

Thai Embassy to Phnom Penh will submit extradition request for Cambodia to extradite Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday, an official said Tuesday.

The Thai Attorney General Office signed the official request and foward the document through the foreign ministry late Tuesday, a few hours after Thaksin landed in Phnom Penh to perform his job as an adivsor to Cambodian government.

Thailand's Thaksin arrives in Cambodia: AFP photographer

AFP

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Nov 10, 2009 (AFP) - Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra landed in the Cambodian capital Tuesday to carry out his new role as economics adviser to the government, an AFP photographer said.

Thaksin exited a small private airplane at Phnom Penh International Airport and was then escorted into the Cambodian capital by a convoy of cars under tight security, said an AFP photographer at the scene.
The visit is set to further escalate tensions with neighbouring Thailand, which have increased since last week when Cambodia appointed Thaksin -- ousted as Thai prime minister in a 2006 coup -- as economics adviser.