Tension on Thai-Cambodian border ahead of Cambodian PM, PAD visits

Thaksin said in his Twitter message that he is still in Dubai and would not accompany Hun Sen to visit the disputed areas near Preah Vihear Temple. He blasted Veera Somkwamkid, the leader of the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who had floated the news earlier.

"Don't you stop lying? I'm in Dubai which is seven hours from Cambodia by flight. How can you imagine I would go there, nonsense," he said.

Veera said he would take his PAD followers to protest against Hun Sen at Preah Vihear as the visit might violate Thai sovereignty over the territory. He said Hun Sen's visit with Thaksin would mount tensions in Thailand's politics as the court would issue a verdict in Thaksin's assets case later this month.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsubhan urged Veera not to make the problem more complicated. He said the government and concerned officials should be allowed to handle the situation.

Veera led the PAD to clash with local residents in Si Sa Ket's Kanthalalak district twice in 2008 and 2009 in protest against Preah Vihear's inscription as a World Heritage Site, which disturbed local people.

Suthep said Hun Sen's visit would not create any tensions in the border areas as the two countries have a protocol for welcoming each other on border visits. The government has assigned Si Sa Ket provincial governor and commander of Second Army Region to welcome the Cambodian prime minister.

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