15/7/2010 By Kok Sap
On 14/7/2010 the news said Mr. Im Sethy, the Education Minister, issued order to ban the general knowledge textbooks authored by Pen Puthsphea because they contain “unsuitable” materials deemed critical to Hun Sen, the government leader, such as, “In the near future, will Cambodia be able to develop? Why?” and, “What do you think of the practice of human rights and freedom in Cambodian society?”
The answer to the first question reads: “The government which is currently led by Prime Minister Hun Sen will not be able to lead Cambodia towards progress in the near future because corruption occurs from the top level of the government down to the local level, and law enforcement and the practice of human rights are still below zero.”
It appears the textbooks questions and answers seem inadequately constituting a false statement or threat to national security. More than likely they are in the frame of the constitutionality (see reference). The minister’s action clearly shows that Cambodia under Mr. Hun Sen personal cult influence soon it will have a full blown authoritarian regime. It’s a sure thing to happen as soon as Heng Samrin or Chea Sim and Sihanouk are out of the picture.
So does it deem appropriate for citizens to speak truth about the government inability or flaws? According to the Constitution (see reference) people can criticize or denounce or file complaint against their government.
In the developed countries, it is the understanding that criticism comes with the public service job and elected offices. Hun Sen has been appointed in 1985 then after 1993 before got elected by the voters to the same job for the last 12 years. However that does not mean he is effective in leading. According to old Kung Fu Tzu says,” a leader must himself be correct. If he shows correctness, who will dare not to be correct?” In other word it takes one to be one.
The argument could also be thrown in why does he not stop the corruption all these years? The people know the government at all levels are corrupted; therefore, the author’s views are reflective the truth in the current government conducts.
Since 1993, billions of dollars in donations poured in Cambodia government coffer to reduce poverty, maintain and rehabilitate the nation necessities. But the majority of people still barely survive on less than $0.50 a day standard. Also the prevalence of authoritarianism and corruption in government is too profane that spared no criticism from the UN Human Rights Council, the World Bank and International Monetary Funds. They all agree Cambodia government lacks good will to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability.
As far as the textbook materials concerned, probably Mr.Hun Sen would agree no less that he, himself, hears threats and critics from donors at each annual consultative conference. Also the author raised the questions which may have nothing to do with Mr. Hun Sen in personal but they are more in tunes with his triangular and rectangular policy deficiencies and oversights. As usual in old saying,” Is there no smoke unless must there be no fire” as otherwise the donors would not insist on Cambodia to hurry in passing the anti-corruption and land laws.
The author said his books have been in the market since 2006 but why now the education minister wants them pulled from the student interests. Undoubtedly there must be a brownie point for Mr. Im Sethy to score and please Mr. Hun Sen. His action is an infringement of the constitutional relevance.
Not long ago Mr.Khieu Kannharith, himself, was accused of violating the international copy rights protection that landed him in legal battle with the original novel ’Shogun’ publisher. But Cambodia government said nothing to that. In effect Mr.Khieu Kanharith isn’t so clean and ideal leader to preach laws. Herewith the author shall challenge both co-conspirators, Mr. Im Sethy and Khieu Kanharith, for violation of the constitutionality in the court of laws.
Laterally Mr. Im Sethy should acknowledge and be more diligent in straightening out his subordinates as government employed educators or instructors to stop extorting money and bribery from students. It is plain wrong and corruptive. In such regard he should support and encourage the young students to take part and assist the regime to fight corruption.
This is to say that Mr. Hun Sen aware of his own inability to progress the country without more donations. Also he must know it takes more than he to eradicate corruption in Cambodia. In the best interest of the nation,Mr. Hun Sen and his government shall embrace the democratic growth of free expression and praise the courageous ones who exercise their rights to educate Cambodia future generations to do the right thing for the country sake.
Reference:
The 1993 Constitution- Article 39 says,” Khmer citizens shall have the right to denounce, make complaints or file claims against any breach of the law by State and social organs or by members of such organs committed during the course of their duties. The settlement of complaints and claims shall reside under the competence of the courts.”
Article 41 also says,” Khmer citizens shall have freedom of expression, press, publication and assembly. No one shall exercise this right to infringe upon the rights of others, to affect the good traditions of the society, to violate public law and order and national security. The regime of the media shall be determined by law.”
Article 65 says, “The State shall protect and upgrade citizens’ rights to quality education at all levels and shall take necessary steps for equality education to reach all citizens. The State shall respect physical education and sports for the welfare of all Khmer citizens.”
16 July 2010
29 January 2010
បទបកស្រាយខ្លី: អ្នកសារព៌តមានត្បាញអាយកុហកខ្លួនឲ្យពហុមហាបណ្ឌិតហ៊ុនសែនអរតាម
សរសេរដោយខកស័ព្ទ (២៩មករា២០១០)
លោកអន្ទិតគោលោត សយសុភាព បានមកដើរលេងស្រុកអាមេរិកប៉ុន្មានថ្ងៃមុននេះ ហើយ ថ្លើមធំព្រហើនខ្លាំងហ៊ាននិយាយថាប្រជាជនខ្មែររស់នៅក្នុងតាមរដ្ឋនៃ ស រ អាភាគច្រើនៗបានបែរមកការគាំទ្រគណបក្សប្រជាជនស្មែរក្រោយពេលដែលពីមុនពួកគេធ្លាប់បានគាំទ្រគណបក្សដទៃ។ហើយបំផ្លើសទៀតថាការផ្លាស់ប្តូរជំនឿនេះ មកពីពួកគេយល់ថាគណបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ បានកសាងប្រទេសឲ្យជ្រឿនទៅមុខឯបក្សដទៃៗគ្មានបានធ្វើអ្វីសោះ។
លោកអន្ទិតគោលោត(លោកឪនទតគោលិទ)សយសុភាពបានសន្មត់ដោយគ្មានអ្វីជាគោល បញ្ជាក់ ច្បាស់លាស់និងជាធាតុពិតក្រៅពីការវាយស្មានដ៏រាក់កំផែលរបស់ខ្លួនឯងនោះសោះ។
ទី១
ដោយមកពីខ្លួនមិនយល់ពីភូមិសាស្រ្តនិងចំនួនជនដើមកំណើតខ្មែរមានសរុបទួទាំងប្រទេសស រ អា ច្បាស់លាស់។មិនមែនក្រុងពីរបីដែលខ្លួនបានទៅដើរលេងនោះវាជាតំណាងឲ្យទីតាំងរស់នៅរបស់ខ្មែរនៅ ស រ អា ទាំងអស់នោះទេ។
ទី២
ការដែលខ្លួនបានជួបនិងប្រាស្រ័យនឹងខ្មែរតាមក្រុង មួយចំនួនក្តាប់តូចនោះមិនអាចយក ជារង្វាស់ ស្មានថាជាស្ថិតិពិតៗបានទេ។បើមិនយល់ច្បាស់ហេតុដូចម្តេចមិនសួរឫស្រាវរកការពិតជាមុនសិន។
មែនហើយទោះខ្មែរនៅតំបន់ជុំវិញ Washington DC ឫ Philadelphia និង Lowell ក៏មិនមែន១០០ភាគ១០០ដែរដែលគាំទ្រឫជឿបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ នោះ។
ហើយក្រុងទាំងនោះរួមគ្នាមានខ្មែរមិនលើសពី៥០ ០០០ទៅ ៦០ ០០០ទេ។ក្នុង ស រ អា ទាំងមូល មានខ្មែរ រស់នៅមិនតិច ជាងពី៣៥០ ០០០ទៅ៤០០ ០០០នាក់ទេ។ តួរលេខ រាយ ការណ៏ របស់សយសុភាព មិនមែន ត្រឹមតែមិនត្រូវគឺវាមិនមែនជាតួរតាងជាភាគច្រើនបានទៅទៀត។
នេះបានចាស់លោកហាមថាចេះឯងឪយក្រែងចេះគេ។
ក្នុងរបរជាអ្នកសារព៌តមានអន្ទិត សយសុភាព ខ្វះការពិចារណានិងយោងដោយកត្តាពិតនូវអ្វីដែលខ្លួន ចង់រាយការជាចំហរនោះ។ហេតុនេះគឺគាត់មិនទាន់យល់ច្បាស់ពីផលវិបាកអាក្រក់និងទោសពិន័យក្នុងការរាយការមិនពិតតាមច្បាប់សំរាប់អ្នកសារព៌តមានចេញពីសាលាអប់រំសារព៌តមាននិងការផ្សាយពិតប្រាកដយ៉ាងណានោះនៅឡើយផងទេ។
តាមពិតស្រុកខ្មែរនរណាក៏អាចសរសេរព៌តមានបានដែរទោះខ្ឡួនមិនមានការរៀននិងអប់រំផ្នែកឯកទេសព៌តមានក៏ដោយ។ ឧទាហរណ៏មានសយសុភាពជាគំរូខ្លួនឯងស្រាប់។
តែនៅស្រុកក្រៅច្បាប់គេសង្កត់ធ្ងន់ណាស់លើការនិយាយបំផ្លើសខុសពីការកើតឡើងនៃហេតុការណ៍។
លោកអន្ទិតចេះតែស្មានៗឲ្យតែព្ញសូរពិរោះត្រចៀកខ្ឡួនឯង។ជាការពិតខ្មែររាប់រយពាន់ដទៃទៀតរស់នៅក្នុងចំណោមរដ្ឋទាំង៥០ លោកមិនទាំងដឺងនិងស្គាល់ សយសុភាពជានរណាផងទេ។ ឯការលើកជើង និងបញ្ជោរ បក្ស ប ជ ជ ខវាជារឿងផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន របស់អន្ទិតទេ។តែការដែលខ្លួនធ្វើឲ្យជនដឹកនាំបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ រិតតែឡើង ជោរទាំងងងិតងងល់នោះដូចពាក្យ គេថា វាមិន ខុសមែន គឺដូចអាខ្វាក់ជាអ្នកប្រាប់អាខ្វិន ឪយដើររកទិសក្នុង យប់អន្ធការ។
លោកអន្ទិតគោលោតសយសុភាពចូលចិត្តចាក់ចេកចាក់ស្ករឡេមឡឺមយកមុខដូចម្លូរចំពោះមុខបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ ដោយមិនចេះខ្មាស់ការពិត។នេះ មិនមែនជាបុគ្គលិកលក្ខណ អ្នកសារព៌តមានៗខួរគិតពិតៗ និងគោរព គោលសីលធ៌មរបស់អាជីពទេ។
បើកុហកខ្លួនឯងគ្មាននរណាថាអីទេតែលោកអន្ទិតគោលោតបានសម្អុយកេរ្តិ ខ្មែរភាគច្រើននៅស រ អា ដោយគេមិនទាំងដឹងខ្លួនផង ថាគេសុទ្ឌជាអ្នកជឿនិងគាំទ្របក្សប្រជាជនស្មែររបស់ខ្លួននោះវាជាការកុហកយ៉ាងងងើលឥតចេះអៀនខ្មាស់ប្រៀបមិនខុសពីមារយាទសំផឹងអត់កាតនៅស្វាយប៉ាក់នោះទេ។
លោកអន្ទិតគោលោត សយសុភាព បានមកដើរលេងស្រុកអាមេរិកប៉ុន្មានថ្ងៃមុននេះ ហើយ ថ្លើមធំព្រហើនខ្លាំងហ៊ាននិយាយថាប្រជាជនខ្មែររស់នៅក្នុងតាមរដ្ឋនៃ ស រ អាភាគច្រើនៗបានបែរមកការគាំទ្រគណបក្សប្រជាជនស្មែរក្រោយពេលដែលពីមុនពួកគេធ្លាប់បានគាំទ្រគណបក្សដទៃ។ហើយបំផ្លើសទៀតថាការផ្លាស់ប្តូរជំនឿនេះ មកពីពួកគេយល់ថាគណបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ បានកសាងប្រទេសឲ្យជ្រឿនទៅមុខឯបក្សដទៃៗគ្មានបានធ្វើអ្វីសោះ។
លោកអន្ទិតគោលោត(លោកឪនទតគោលិទ)សយសុភាពបានសន្មត់ដោយគ្មានអ្វីជាគោល បញ្ជាក់ ច្បាស់លាស់និងជាធាតុពិតក្រៅពីការវាយស្មានដ៏រាក់កំផែលរបស់ខ្លួនឯងនោះសោះ។
ទី១
ដោយមកពីខ្លួនមិនយល់ពីភូមិសាស្រ្តនិងចំនួនជនដើមកំណើតខ្មែរមានសរុបទួទាំងប្រទេសស រ អា ច្បាស់លាស់។មិនមែនក្រុងពីរបីដែលខ្លួនបានទៅដើរលេងនោះវាជាតំណាងឲ្យទីតាំងរស់នៅរបស់ខ្មែរនៅ ស រ អា ទាំងអស់នោះទេ។
ទី២
ការដែលខ្លួនបានជួបនិងប្រាស្រ័យនឹងខ្មែរតាមក្រុង មួយចំនួនក្តាប់តូចនោះមិនអាចយក ជារង្វាស់ ស្មានថាជាស្ថិតិពិតៗបានទេ។បើមិនយល់ច្បាស់ហេតុដូចម្តេចមិនសួរឫស្រាវរកការពិតជាមុនសិន។
មែនហើយទោះខ្មែរនៅតំបន់ជុំវិញ Washington DC ឫ Philadelphia និង Lowell ក៏មិនមែន១០០ភាគ១០០ដែរដែលគាំទ្រឫជឿបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ នោះ។
ហើយក្រុងទាំងនោះរួមគ្នាមានខ្មែរមិនលើសពី៥០ ០០០ទៅ ៦០ ០០០ទេ។ក្នុង ស រ អា ទាំងមូល មានខ្មែរ រស់នៅមិនតិច ជាងពី៣៥០ ០០០ទៅ៤០០ ០០០នាក់ទេ។ តួរលេខ រាយ ការណ៏ របស់សយសុភាព មិនមែន ត្រឹមតែមិនត្រូវគឺវាមិនមែនជាតួរតាងជាភាគច្រើនបានទៅទៀត។
នេះបានចាស់លោកហាមថាចេះឯងឪយក្រែងចេះគេ។
ក្នុងរបរជាអ្នកសារព៌តមានអន្ទិត សយសុភាព ខ្វះការពិចារណានិងយោងដោយកត្តាពិតនូវអ្វីដែលខ្លួន ចង់រាយការជាចំហរនោះ។ហេតុនេះគឺគាត់មិនទាន់យល់ច្បាស់ពីផលវិបាកអាក្រក់និងទោសពិន័យក្នុងការរាយការមិនពិតតាមច្បាប់សំរាប់អ្នកសារព៌តមានចេញពីសាលាអប់រំសារព៌តមាននិងការផ្សាយពិតប្រាកដយ៉ាងណានោះនៅឡើយផងទេ។
តាមពិតស្រុកខ្មែរនរណាក៏អាចសរសេរព៌តមានបានដែរទោះខ្ឡួនមិនមានការរៀននិងអប់រំផ្នែកឯកទេសព៌តមានក៏ដោយ។ ឧទាហរណ៏មានសយសុភាពជាគំរូខ្លួនឯងស្រាប់។
តែនៅស្រុកក្រៅច្បាប់គេសង្កត់ធ្ងន់ណាស់លើការនិយាយបំផ្លើសខុសពីការកើតឡើងនៃហេតុការណ៍។
លោកអន្ទិតចេះតែស្មានៗឲ្យតែព្ញសូរពិរោះត្រចៀកខ្ឡួនឯង។ជាការពិតខ្មែររាប់រយពាន់ដទៃទៀតរស់នៅក្នុងចំណោមរដ្ឋទាំង៥០ លោកមិនទាំងដឺងនិងស្គាល់ សយសុភាពជានរណាផងទេ។ ឯការលើកជើង និងបញ្ជោរ បក្ស ប ជ ជ ខវាជារឿងផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន របស់អន្ទិតទេ។តែការដែលខ្លួនធ្វើឲ្យជនដឹកនាំបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ រិតតែឡើង ជោរទាំងងងិតងងល់នោះដូចពាក្យ គេថា វាមិន ខុសមែន គឺដូចអាខ្វាក់ជាអ្នកប្រាប់អាខ្វិន ឪយដើររកទិសក្នុង យប់អន្ធការ។
លោកអន្ទិតគោលោតសយសុភាពចូលចិត្តចាក់ចេកចាក់ស្ករឡេមឡឺមយកមុខដូចម្លូរចំពោះមុខបក្ស ប ជ ជ ខ ដោយមិនចេះខ្មាស់ការពិត។នេះ មិនមែនជាបុគ្គលិកលក្ខណ អ្នកសារព៌តមានៗខួរគិតពិតៗ និងគោរព គោលសីលធ៌មរបស់អាជីពទេ។
បើកុហកខ្លួនឯងគ្មាននរណាថាអីទេតែលោកអន្ទិតគោលោតបានសម្អុយកេរ្តិ ខ្មែរភាគច្រើននៅស រ អា ដោយគេមិនទាំងដឹងខ្លួនផង ថាគេសុទ្ឌជាអ្នកជឿនិងគាំទ្របក្សប្រជាជនស្មែររបស់ខ្លួននោះវាជាការកុហកយ៉ាងងងើលឥតចេះអៀនខ្មាស់ប្រៀបមិនខុសពីមារយាទសំផឹងអត់កាតនៅស្វាយប៉ាក់នោះទេ។
16 November 2009
Cambodia,Thailand in new row
16/11/2009 (AFP)Phnom Penh - Cambodia and Thailand reignited their diplomatic row on Monday over fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, giving disputing accounts over consular visits to a Thai man accused of spying.
The Cambodian foreign ministry said a Thai embassy official was allowed on Monday to visit Siwarak Chothipong, 31, who was arrested Thursday on charges of supplying details of Thaksin's flight schedule to his country's embassy.
But Bangkok, already furious over Phnom Penh's refusal to extradite Thaksin when he visited Cambodia last week, denied that its diplomats had been granted access to the man, an employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service.
'Today, we agreed to allow (a Thai diplomat) to visit the man at 2pm (0700 GMT, 3pm Singapore time) in the prison where he is being temporarily detained,' Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP.
The spy allegations prompted Phnom Penh to expel the Thai embassy's first secretary on Thursday and Thailand reciprocated hours later.
Thaksin, who visited under his new role as economic adviser to Cambodia, left the country on Saturday, ending a contentious four-day visit that deepened a diplomatic storm between already bickering Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
The Cambodian foreign ministry said a Thai embassy official was allowed on Monday to visit Siwarak Chothipong, 31, who was arrested Thursday on charges of supplying details of Thaksin's flight schedule to his country's embassy.
But Bangkok, already furious over Phnom Penh's refusal to extradite Thaksin when he visited Cambodia last week, denied that its diplomats had been granted access to the man, an employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service.
'Today, we agreed to allow (a Thai diplomat) to visit the man at 2pm (0700 GMT, 3pm Singapore time) in the prison where he is being temporarily detained,' Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP.
The spy allegations prompted Phnom Penh to expel the Thai embassy's first secretary on Thursday and Thailand reciprocated hours later.
Thaksin, who visited under his new role as economic adviser to Cambodia, left the country on Saturday, ending a contentious four-day visit that deepened a diplomatic storm between already bickering Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
UAE gets Thaksins deails
16/11/2009 (AFP) Bangkok - Thailand said on Monday it had passed information to the United Arab Emirates proving that Thaksin Shinawatra is living in Dubai, as Bangkok pushes to bring home the fugitive former premier.
A Thai foreign ministry official met the Emirati envoy to Bangkok to discuss Mr Thaksin, who was toppled in a bloodless 2006 coup and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. The move came days after Cambodia turned down a request from Thailand for the extradition of Mr Thaksin, who had visited the neighbouring country to take up a new role as an economic adviser.
Mr Thaksin has said he spends much of his time in Dubai. Thailand has previously sought the UAE's assistance but the two countries have not signed an extradition treaty.
Panich Vikitsreth, vice minister at the Thai ministry, said he had 'briefly' met UAE ambassador Mohammed Ali Ahmed Omran Al Shamsi on Monday 'to discuss information related to Thaksin'.
'We submitted information showing that the former premier has been located there,' Mr Panich told AFP. 'The ambassador responded very warmly to our information. He affirmed the UAE's principle that it will not allow anyone to use it as a political base to attack other countries.'
He said the details provided included an interview with British newspaper The Times, which had taken place in Dubai, and comments from a Thaksin aide who said the ex-premier left Cambodia for Dubai on Saturday.
A Thai foreign ministry official met the Emirati envoy to Bangkok to discuss Mr Thaksin, who was toppled in a bloodless 2006 coup and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. The move came days after Cambodia turned down a request from Thailand for the extradition of Mr Thaksin, who had visited the neighbouring country to take up a new role as an economic adviser.
Mr Thaksin has said he spends much of his time in Dubai. Thailand has previously sought the UAE's assistance but the two countries have not signed an extradition treaty.
Panich Vikitsreth, vice minister at the Thai ministry, said he had 'briefly' met UAE ambassador Mohammed Ali Ahmed Omran Al Shamsi on Monday 'to discuss information related to Thaksin'.
'We submitted information showing that the former premier has been located there,' Mr Panich told AFP. 'The ambassador responded very warmly to our information. He affirmed the UAE's principle that it will not allow anyone to use it as a political base to attack other countries.'
He said the details provided included an interview with British newspaper The Times, which had taken place in Dubai, and comments from a Thaksin aide who said the ex-premier left Cambodia for Dubai on Saturday.
Grenade caused Thai rally blast
16/11/2009 (AFP) Bangkok - Thai police said on Monday that a grenade was responsible for a blast at a rally by opponents of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as the number of injured rose to 12.
Organisers said the small explosion at the protest in central Bangkok late on Sunday was caused by a firecracker thrown by men on a motorcycle, but police said they now believed it was a more serious attack.
The rally by around 20,000 'Yellow Shirts' was held to condemn Thaksin's visit to neighbouring Cambodia last week and his appointment by Phnom Penh as a an economic adviser to the government.
'This M-79 grenade was likely fired from the side of the venue, where the defence ministry and a court are located,' said Lieutenant General Worapong Chewpreecha, chief of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, who added that of the 12 people wounded in the blast three remained in hospital, one of them in intensive care. Two children were among those hurt, he said.
Yellow Shirt founder Sondhi Limthongkul said on Sunday that two men on a motorbike had thrown a large firecracker, which caused the explosion.
The royalist PAD said they were also protesting against comments about the monarchy made by billionaire Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006. The Yellow Shirts held mass rallies in the months before the coup and took to the streets again in 2008, blockading Bangkok's airports to drive out the then pro-Thaksin government.
Organisers said the small explosion at the protest in central Bangkok late on Sunday was caused by a firecracker thrown by men on a motorcycle, but police said they now believed it was a more serious attack.
The rally by around 20,000 'Yellow Shirts' was held to condemn Thaksin's visit to neighbouring Cambodia last week and his appointment by Phnom Penh as a an economic adviser to the government.
'This M-79 grenade was likely fired from the side of the venue, where the defence ministry and a court are located,' said Lieutenant General Worapong Chewpreecha, chief of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, who added that of the 12 people wounded in the blast three remained in hospital, one of them in intensive care. Two children were among those hurt, he said.
Yellow Shirt founder Sondhi Limthongkul said on Sunday that two men on a motorbike had thrown a large firecracker, which caused the explosion.
The royalist PAD said they were also protesting against comments about the monarchy made by billionaire Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006. The Yellow Shirts held mass rallies in the months before the coup and took to the streets again in 2008, blockading Bangkok's airports to drive out the then pro-Thaksin government.
Thai rally blast probed
16/11/2009(AFP)Bangkok - Thai police were investigating Monday a blast at a rally by opponents of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, as the number of injured rose to 12, including two children.
Organisers said the small explosion at the protest in central Bangkok late Sunday was caused by a firecracker thrown by two men on a motorcycle, but police said the cause was still not clear.
The rally by around 20,000 'Yellow Shirts' was held to condemn Thaksin's visit to neighbouring Cambodia last week and his appointment by Phnom Penh as a an economic adviser to the government.
Deputy national police spokesman colonel Piya Utayo said police were continuing to investigate the blast. He said 12 people including two boys were wounded, updating an overnight toll of four hurt.
Photographs of the scene showed a small crater in a paving stone and a number of supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) suffering from slight cuts. The royalist PAD said they were also protesting against comments about the monarchy made by billionaire Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006.
The Yellow Shirts held mass rallies in the months before the coup and took to the streets again in 2008, blockading Bangkok's airports to drive out the then pro-Thaksin government.
Organisers said the small explosion at the protest in central Bangkok late Sunday was caused by a firecracker thrown by two men on a motorcycle, but police said the cause was still not clear.
The rally by around 20,000 'Yellow Shirts' was held to condemn Thaksin's visit to neighbouring Cambodia last week and his appointment by Phnom Penh as a an economic adviser to the government.
Deputy national police spokesman colonel Piya Utayo said police were continuing to investigate the blast. He said 12 people including two boys were wounded, updating an overnight toll of four hurt.
Photographs of the scene showed a small crater in a paving stone and a number of supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) suffering from slight cuts. The royalist PAD said they were also protesting against comments about the monarchy made by billionaire Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006.
The Yellow Shirts held mass rallies in the months before the coup and took to the streets again in 2008, blockading Bangkok's airports to drive out the then pro-Thaksin government.
12 November 2009
Senior Diplomats Expelled
The tit-for-tat moves came as Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for graft, delivered a lecture in the Cambodian capital in which he accused Thailand’s rulers of ‘false patriotism’.
‘We decided to expel the Cambodian first secretary after Cambodia expelled our first secretary from the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh,’ Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told AFP.
He said Thailand had given the neighbouring country’s diplomat 48 hours to leave.
Thai foreign ministry spokeswoman Vimon Kidchob said it was ‘necessary to take similar action’ after Cambodia ordered its diplomat to leave Phnom Penh on Thursday afternoon. There was no immediate comment from Cambodia.
Thailand and Cambodia have already recalled their ambassadors from each other’s capitals in the growing quarrel over Phnom Penh’s appointment of Mr Thaksin, which was announced last week.
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