Ousted former Thai PM Thaksin leaves Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 14 — Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra left Cambodia Saturday after making a five-day working visit to this country.

Thaksin made his first and public visit to Cambodia after he was appointed on Oct. 27 as economic advisor to Hun Sen and to the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Thaksin arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday morning and met with Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Thaksin gave lecture to some 300 Cambodian economists and business people at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Phnom Penh and then flew to Cambodia's northern province of Siem Reap.

After arrival in Siem Reap on Thursday, Thaksin had toured Angkor Wat temple and played golf with Prime Minister Hun Sen the next day.

On Friday, Thaksin hosted dinner in Siem Reap for about 100 Thai supporters, including some members of parliament who have crossed the border from Thailand.

Thaksin met and exchanged talks with Hun Sen while he was in Cambodia and both had affirmed their long relation back to some 20 years ago.

Being an economic advisor, Thaksin said he will help Cambodia in economic development.

The tit-for-tat move between the two countries came after Thaksin's appointment. Thailand recalled its ambassador on Nov. 5 and Cambodia made the same move shortly after.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup for alleged corruption and other charges. His supporters say he should be pardoned and returned to power.

Since the coup, Thaksin has lived abroad to escape a corruption conviction and two-year prison. Nobody can say where Thaksin is going to. (PNA/Xinhua) scs/rsm

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