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Phnom Penh governor sacked
By Reach Sambath
11feb03

THE Cambodian government dismissed the popular governor of Phnom Penh today, saying Thai intelligence had accused high-ranking officials of being behind anti-Thai riots in the city two weeks ago.

The decision to dismiss Chea Sophara and make him ambassador to Myanmar was taken late yesterday at a meeting of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told AFP.

He gave no direct reason for the dismissal but said: "The government changed the position of a few officials after Thai intelligence accused some high-ranking Cambodian government officials of being behind the torching and looting of the Thai embassy and Thai businesses."

One Cambodian was killed and eight people injured in the riots, which forced the evacuation of Thailand's diplomats and 700 other Thai nationals. The violence was sparked by unsubstantiated reports that a Thai actress had claimed the Angkor Wat temple complex belonged to Thailand.

"There will be more officials who will be disciplined in order to allow the government to investigate the incidents that happened on the 29th of January," Khieu Kanharith said.

He did not identify the officials, but said they had been put on leave.

"The government will keep the accused in one place so that the government can investigate," Khieu Kanharith said.

An emotional Chea Sophara told AFP: "You have already heard what the radio said. I have no other comment beyond that." He was appointed in November 1999 for a five-year term.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed in Bangkok that Thailand had been involved in the investigations into the riots.

"Cambodia has let Thai experts help in the investigation. As I know, there will be several important position changes," Thaksin told reporters who had asked for his reaction to the governor's dismissal.

"We have told them several times what we think, what is our suspicions," he said.

"We have our intelligence information. One Western country has analysed the situation and come to the same conclusion as Thailand about what caused the situation," he said, without identifying the country.

Thaksin did not comment specifically on Chea Sophara's dismissal, saying it was an internal affair.

Chea Sophara, 51, won praise during his term for transforming the capital of 1.2 million inhabitants into a safer, cleaner, greener city but his heavy-handed approach earned him critics as well as fans.

He was considered a rising star in Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP and tipped by many as having a brilliant political future.

Chea Sophara is seen as having played to anti-Thai sentiment in Cambodia.

In January he inaugurated a radio and television station on the site of the Preah Vihear temples which are close to the border with Thailand and have been claimed by both countries for decades, despite an international ruling in 1962 in favour of Phnom Penh.

Two days before the violence, he ordered the withdrawal of Thai programmes from Cambodian television following the media's publication of the actress's alleged statements about Angkor Wat, which she has denied making.

Commenting on Chea Sophara's dismissal, Opposition FUNCINPEC MP Princess Norodom Vacheara said: "I believe this action may be involved with the event of January 29. It is clearly 90 per cent related to this event.

"This act seems (intended) to satisfy Thailand and to make them see that we have dismissed the people who are also responsible for that event."

Thailand downgraded diplomatic relations with Phnom Penh and recalled its ambassador to Bangkok following the riots. The bill for damage to Thai businesses alone was reportedly two billion baht ($79.35 million).

Thai envoys arrived in Cambodia yesterday to re-establish their diplomatic mission, now at the level of charge d'affaires.

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