Cambodia-Thailand Rift: Ambassadors Recalled

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart, Abhisit Vejjajiva

And so, the Cambodia-Thailand diplomatic row continues following Hun Sen’s nomination of ousted former Thai prime minister Thanksin Shinawatra. Here is what I woke up to this morning:

Cambodia recalled its ambassador to Thailand Thursday, the deputy prime minister said, hours after Bangkok pulled its envoy in a row over Phnom Penh’s job offer to former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

“To reciprocate the recall of Thailand’s ambassador-designate, the Royal Government of Cambodia decided to recall its ambassador for the time being but regards this only as a temporary measure,” Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said.

Sok An told a news conference in Phnom Penh that the Cambodian envoy would be sent back to Bangkok “only after Thailand has sent its ambassador-designate to Cambodia”.

The Cambodian government announced the appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser late Wednesday, riling Bangkok as it attempts to bring the billionaire tycoon home to face justice three years after he was ousted in a coup.

While I was kinda expecting this, I still find this very insane. I’m just sick and tired of this political drama. The two governments are worse than kindergarten kids, doing what they are doing. Let’s act more like grow-ups, please!