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Copyright © 2002 The International Herald Tribune | www.iht.com
Thailand reopens its embassy in Cambodia
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The Associated Press Monday, February 9, 2004
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PHNOM PENH Thailand reopened its embassy here on Monday a little more than one year after being set afire by a mob during anti-Thai riots.
The finishing touches were being applied to the refurbished mission as it opened without fanfare. On Sunday, nine Buddhist monks presided at a ritual blessing of the embassy complex.
"We have been waiting for this day to come for a year now," the Thai ambassador, Piyawat Niyomrerks, said at a news conference. "If we have our home finished, then we should come back to our home."
Piyawat spoke in the mission's main building, as reporters strained to hear his words over the sound of construction work still being done on the ambassador's official residence, which had been heavily damaged by rioters.
Mobs burned the embassy complex on Jan. 29 last year and later that night roamed the streets of Phnom Penh, setting afire Thai-owned businesses.
The riot was prompted by false Cambodian newspaper reports that a Thai actress had insulted Cambodia by saying the country's famed Angkor Wat temples belonged to Thailand. The actress, Suwanan Khongying, denied making any derogatory remarks.
The Thai Embassy is across the street from Cambodia's powerful Interior Ministry, which controls the country's police forces. But Cambodian police did little to prevent the attack.
After the riot, Thailand sent military planes to evacuate its citizens and suspended most ties with Cambodia.
Relations with Thailand were fully restored after Cambodia, which relies heavily on foreign aid, paid $5.9 million for damage to the embassy. Thai companies say the violence caused more than $46.8 million in damage, but it was not clear whether any compensation had been paid.
The ambassador, Piyawat, said the Thai government was considering bringing in Thai military personnel to help guard the embassy.
Copyright © 2002 The International Herald Tribune
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