![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() INSIDE News » The Plain Dealer » Sun Newspapers » Business » NewsFlash » Weather » Traffic » Obituaries » Opinion/Columns » Crime » Politics » In-depth ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
![]() |
![]()
![]()
![]() ![]()
![]()
![]()
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cambodia apologizes for anti-Thai riots as Bangkok retaliates
By KER MUNTHIT
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- Cambodia apologized and offered
compensation Thursday for a riot that damaged the Thai Embassy and
severely strained relations with its neighbor.
The embassy was partially burned and vandalized by mobs during
riots Wednesday that also damaged several Thai-owned hotels,
restaurants and other businesses, left one Thai dead and seven
injured.
In retaliation, the Thai government closed its borders with
Cambodia, downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended economic
cooperation with its smaller neighbor.
Cambodia's government apologized and said it would pay
compensation "quickly and unconditionally" for damage caused to
the Thai Embassy and its staff.
The violence was sparked by Cambodian media reports -- which
turned out to be based on rumors -- that a Thai television actress
had insulted national pride by suggesting that Cambodia's famed
Angkor Wat temple, a national symbol, is on land that should be
part of Thailand.
"We did not expect this to go this far ... It was a mistake. We
apologize and regret what happened to Thailand and her people,"
government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.
The government statement, broadcast on radio and television,
said a committee would try to find ways to compensate damaged Thai
businesses. Among the companies hit was a mobile phone network
belonging to the family of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thailand's military arranged emergency flights from Bangkok to
Phnom Penh's airport Thursday to evacuate 703 of its citizens.
Thai officials estimated the damage at $23 million, including
lost business opportunities.
Thaksin ordered a suspension of all business, cultural and other
activities with Cambodia and downgraded diplomatic ties to charge
d'affaires level.
"All ongoing government projects on technical and economic
cooperation between the two countries are henceforth suspended,"
said an official letter to the Cambodian ambassador, who was also
expelled. Thailand also withdrew its ambassador from Cambodia.
These measures would remain in force until Cambodia gives a full
explanation for its inaction against the rioters, compensates the
damage and punishes the culprits, the letter said.
The national carrier, Thai Airways, suspended flights to Phnom
Penh until at least Monday. Thai authorities ordered all border
crossings closed, and rounded up 67 illegal Cambodian workers for
expulsion.
In Bangkok, hundreds of Thais demonstrated outside the Cambodian
Embassy. They burned the Cambodian flag and pulled out the brass
seal and lettering on the embassy's wall, but dispersed after the
national police chief read an appeal for calm by Thailand's revered
King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Crowds returned after dark, but were kept away from the embassy
by a large numbers of police.
The Thai actress at the center of the controversy, Suwanan
Kongying, again denied she ever said Cambodia illegally annexed
Thai territory that includes the Angkor Wat temple.
An editor of the Cambodian newspaper that published Suwanan's
alleged comments on Jan. 18 told The Associated Press that his
report was based on rumors and probably incorrect.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
» Send This Page | » Print This Page | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Help/Feedback | Advertise With Us © 2003 cleveland.com. All Rights Reserved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||