I hope the King has no say after all he is ain't elected by the people, it is the government that is elected by the people. as stated in the Cambodian constitution the king is basically a ceremony head of state, no political power. I hope Mr. Son Chhay realizes one day he or Mr. Sam Rainsy are elected PM, he does not want the King, or Queen to tell his government what to do. > Have you ever heard or seen anything that Sam Rainsy and his clans > like what Hun Sen and his government do? > > > On Dec 14, 5:28 am, [email protected] wrote: > >> Cambodian opposition angered at Thai spy's pardon >> * _Print_ (javascript:window.print()) >> * _Email_ >> (http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/mailto/mailto-nojs_query.pl?http...) >> Updated December 14, 2009 20:49:13 >> Cambodia's opposition has accused the government of undermining the >> country's monarch and of meddling in Thai politics, after the spying >> conviction >> of a Thai man was overturned. Last week a 31-year-old Thai national was >> jailed for seven years for tipping off Phnom Penh's Thai embassy about the >> former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Cambodia. Three >> days >> later the Cambodian king granted Siwarak Chothipong a royal pardon - a move >> that's outraged the opposition. >> >> Presenter: Liam Cochrane >> Speakers: Siwarak Chothipong, released Thai citizen; Koy Kuorn, spokesman, >> Cambodian Foreign Ministry; Son Chhay, opposition politician >> >> // >> * Listen: >> * _Windows Media_ >> (http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/stories/m1827361.asx) >> COCHRANE: It was a swift and sweet release for Thai national Siwarak >> Chothipong. >> >> SIWARAK CHOTHIPONG: I feel very happy that I have the freedom again. >> >> REPORTER: Did you say anything to Premier Hun Sen?' >> >> SIWARAK CHOTHIPONG: Yes, I really appreciate his [Hun Sen's] kindness and >> help me and let me go out. And I very very appreciate for the kindness of >> your highness, his majesty of the kingdom of Cambodia that have given me a >> chance to go back home." >> >> COCHRANE: Koy Kuorn, spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, says the >> Thai man is a small player in a wider game. >> >> KOY KUORN: The former Thai spy is the victim of the Thai embassy in Phnom >> Penh, because he was ordered by the Thai embassy to do the espionage. And >> normally embassy receives the order from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or >> the government. >> >> COCHRANE: Koy Kuorn denied there was political pressure to have the man >> released. >> >> KOY KUORN: This is the right of the King, the King grant the royal pardon >> to him. >> >> COCHRANE: But Son Chhay, a member of parliament for the opposition Sam >> Rainsy Party, called it "strange" that while previous requests for royal >> pardons have taken months or years, this politically sensitive one was >> granted >> within a week. >> >> SON CHHAY: I think the King has no say. He only did what the Prime >> Minister want him to do. >> >> COCHRANE: The spokesman for the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs said this case >> did receive some special treatment - in that not all prisoners receive >> their official letters of pardon at the home of the Prime Minister. >> >> KOY KUORN: It's just only occasional, just occasional - like this case. >> >> COCHRANE: It's a case which has added to the already strained diplomatic >> relationship between Cambodia and Thailand. In 2003, rioters burned down the >> Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, and this year saw sporadic clashes around the >> Preah Vihear temple on their shared border. So last month, when Cambodia >> made Thaksin Shinawatra an official economic advisor, Thailand withdrew its >> ambassador and Cambodia followed suit. >> >> The spokesman for Cambodia's Foriegn Affairs Ministry says Thaksin did not >> request the pardon, that came from the Pheu Thai party, the successor to >> Mr Thaksin's now banned political party. Koy Kuorn played down the effect >> the spy case might have on diplomatic relations. >> >> KOY KUORN: It's just not relevant to each other. It's just one case, and >> the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand is another case. >> >> COCHRANE: However, opposition politician Son Chhay says the royal pardon >> and Mr Thaksin's visit suggests Prime Minister Hun Sen is betting that >> supporters of the ousted Mr Thaksin will one day reclaim power. >> >> SON CHHAY: So we should not put our hands so deep into the affair of the >> other nation, especially the neighbouring nation. >> >> COCHRANE: A spokesman for the Thai government has told media a new >> extradition request will be lodged but Koy Kuorn says it will be a waste of >> time, >> with Cambodia continuing to offer a safe port for Thailand's most wanted >> man. >> > >
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