Thailand retaliates against Singapore over Thaksin visit

BANGKOK, Jan 16 (TNA) - Thailand on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over the Singapore ambassador's explanation regarding the recent visit of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the city state, announcing the cancellation of an invitation to Singapore's foreign minister and an exchange programme, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The announcement was made after the ministry summoned Singapore's ambassador Peter Chan to expressed concern about the four-day visit of Mr. Thaksin beginning last Saturday which Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont described as causing worries to the Thai government.

"We expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation made by the Singaporean authorities as it may affect mutual trust and understanding. Therefore we have decided to cancel an official invitation to Singapore's Foreign Minister to Bangkok to attend the Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP) scheduled later this month," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kitti Wasinondh said, stating that the programme itself is cancelled.

The response came following the feeling of "uneasiness" expressed by the military Council for National Security (CNS) as well as Prime Minister Surayud over Mr. Thaksin's visit to Singapore during which he was granted a meeting with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar.

Gen. Surayud said Mr. Thaksin' s visit might cause political complications and so the government must express its concern.

"We need to make it clear on this issue because Mr. Thaksin is still loved and liked by a certain number of people. That may inspire political movements back home (by his supporters)," Gen Surayud said.

Despite being claimed as a personal visit to a friend, Gen Surayud said, Mr. Thaksin's meeting with Singaporean deputy prime minister has worried Thailand.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said the indefinite measures were appropriate response regarding the circumstances. The Singapore's ambassador will convey the message to his government.

Living in exile following the September 19 coup, Mr. Thaksin travelled to Britain, China, Indonesia, and Singapore. Thailand views his mobility -- and his visits to government officials in some places -- as an attempt to keep himself in the news, which can cause confusion and division among the Thai public.

In an apparent attempt to make it less convenient for the deposed premier to move freely internationally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stripped him and his wife Pojaman of their diplomatic passports, citing his changed status, and the inappropriateness relating to national security concerns of his continued possession and use of such a passport.

TNA

TIES WITH S'PORE SUFFER SETBACK

High-level meetings cancelled as govt retaliates over Thaksin visit; City-state 'saddened' by reaction

Thailand yesterday decided to suspend indefinitely all high-level meetings with Singapore, including a ministerial dialogue next month, to protest the island's insensitivity to Thailand's political situation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kitti Wasinond said yesterday.

An informed government source said this diplomatic retaliation could also affect the planned summit later this year between the leaders of the two countries if the situation does not improve.

Yesterday's move was a retaliation against Singapore for permitting ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to meet deputy premier S Jayakumar and to use the island-state as a launching pad to attack the government.

"We informed the Singaporean [ambassador] that we are concerned by the political movements made by Thaksin," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters after Thai Foreign Ministry officials met Ambassador Peter Chan.

"Singapore should be more cautious about allowing such movements as we have already revoked Thaksin's diplomatic passport," Surayud said.

In response to Thailand's move, the Singaporean Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying they were "saddened" by the Thai action and expressed hope that Bangkok will respect the island-state's position "as a sovereign country."

"The Thai government did not notify us that Dr Thaksin has been charged for any offence. There is also no restriction on where he can travel to," the statement said.

"He [Thaksin] had chosen to make a visit to Singapore on his own. Dr Thaksin had asked to meet Deputy Prime Minister Professor S Jayakumar, who is an old friend. It was purely a social and private meeting. No official calls or meetings were arranged." The statement went on to say: "There is no reason for Singapore to turn Dr Thaksin away. Prior to Singapore, Dr Thaksin had also visited several other countries without any protest by the Thai government."

Krit Garnjanagoonchorn, permanent secretary at the Foreign Ministry, yesterday summoned Singapore ambassador Chan to lodge Thailand's protest.

"The main reason behind our measures was because Singaporean President SR Nathan had told PM Surayud on November 9, 2006, that Singapore will not betray [Thailand] and will not do anything to damage the trust and understanding between the two countries," Kitti said.

Informed sources told The Nation the decision to hit back at Singapore was reached after Surayud asked the Foreign Ministry to assess the damage caused by Thaksin's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar, as well as his interviews with CNN and the Wall Street Journal (Asia) on Monday's night.

Last week in Cebu, Chan informed Foreign Minister Nitya Phibulsonggram and Krit Garnjanagoonchorn that Thaksin would be visiting Singapore for four days on a private visit and that Jayakumar would host him a private lunch. No immediate action was taken after the message was relayed to the Thai side. But Thaksin appeared to have crossed the threshold when he went to the foreign media during his visit to attack the government and the junta.

A Thai source said Thaksin's visit was at the invitation of Singapore.

In his interview with Wall Street Journal, Thaksin discredited the Thai government's economic policies and also derided the power seizure that deposed him from power on September 19.

Thaksin also took a political pot-shot during his five-minute stint on CNN and reminded the audience that he was democratically elected.

Thaksin also denied the government's accusations that he had any link with a series of bomb blasts on 31 December 2006.

Thai officials said they were shocked to learn that a senior Singapore official would be giving a private lunch to Thaksin following hot on the heels of the revoking of his diplomatic passport and the ill-feeling caused by the Shin Corp-Temasek deal.

"It shows Singapore's insensitivity to Thailand," said one of the sources.

The move is expected to set a precedent for other countries over how to handle Thaksin's visit and meeting in their respective country.

China was said to be "more than understanding" when informed about the revoking of Thaksin's diplomatic passport.

After his return from Cebu on Monday, Surayud hinted at yesterday's action, saying some diplomatic action might have to be taken in response to Thaksin's meeting with Jayakumar in Singapore.

At the Asean summit meeting in Cebu, Nitya informed his counterpart George Yeo about the revoking of Thaksin's diplomatic passport. Nitya was told that it was a private visit. Asean has a visa-free voluntary scheme for its citizens.

The indefinite suspension of the important summit retreat between the two leaders scheduled for later this year represents a low-point in Thai-Singapore relations. Both countries are key Asean members that have cooperated closely on issues related to economic integration and political deliberations.

This informal retreat has been the main forum for leaders of both countries to engage in a tete-a-tete on pivotal bilateral and regional issues. The fourth summit retreat was scheduled later this year in Singapore. The first was held in Phuket in 2003, the second in Sentosa Island 2004, and the latest summit was held in Chiang Mai in 2005.

Another important bilateral meeting, known as Thai-Singapore Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP) has also been suspended.

Singapore Foreign Minister Yeo was scheduled to fly in for the CSEP meeting in early February. This programme started in 1998 and was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the civil service sectors as part of the "strategic partnership" banner.

Thailand has provided airstrips for the Singaporean air force to train their combat jetfighters as well as other defence cooperation. The island also participates in the Cobra Gold military exercise, under the Thai-US military co-operation.

Bilateral trade between the two countries in 2005 amounted to nearly US$13 billion (Bt466 billion).

The Nation

Thaksin's meeting with Singapore not personal one : Abhisit

PM Surayud said his government took careful consideration before issuing measures on Singapore.

Democrat Party will find it difficult to believe that Thaksin's points of discussion with Singapore's Foreign Minister S Jayakumar were personal in nature, its leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said.

The discussion could not be "how are you? I'm fine," Abhisit said.

"Thaksin's personal matters were always his business and for his business gains. As we know, his business have caused problems for Thailand, such as sales of Shin Corps to Temasek of Singapore. Even when he was prime minister and negotiated with foreign countries, he always took opportunities to negotiate for his own benefits."

The Thai government on Tuesday suspend indefinitely all high-level meetings with Singapore, including a ministerial dialogue next month, to protest the island's insensitivity to Thailand's political situation.

The decision was made after deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was allowed to visit Singapore and met Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar.

The move was retaliation against the island-state's decision to allowed Thaksin to use it as a launching pad to attack the Thai government.

Abhisi said however, Thai government should be careful as Singapore and Thailand are both Asean member countries.

He also referred to Thaksin's interview with CNN in which he said he would retire from politics, saying "enough is enough."

Instead of saying he has enough of politics, Abhisit said Thaksin needs to state clearly that he will stop creating problems for Thailand.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Thai government has taken careful consideration behind the measures taken up against Singapore and should not worry so much about the consequences.

"The government has made its decision on the matters with careful consideration. So we are confident of what we have done. We should not worry about the consequences," he said.

"Thai Foreign Minister [Nitya Pibulsonggram] informed his Singaporean counterpart before announcing the measures," Surayud said.

Singapore has insisted that Thaksin's visit was a personal one and Jayakumar was an old friend of Thaksin.

The Nation

Don't you think that the Thai Govt. is overreacting a little bit?