Wed, 11 Nov 2009
Karen Percy, Bangkok and wires
ABC News Australia
Cambodian officials have handed over a formal letter to Thai diplomats in Phnom Pehn refusing to extradite fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Earlier, Thai diplomats handed over a formal letter to Cambodian officials seeking his extradition.
Mr Thaksin, was toppled three years ago in a coup and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.
He arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up his new position as economic adviser and was welcomed by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen says Mr Thaksin's corruption conviction last year was political.
Mr Thaksin is expected to deliver an address to economists on Thursday in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia says Mr Thaksin cannot discuss politics while he's in the country.
Lese majeste charges
Earlier, opponents of Mr Thaksin levelled fresh lese majeste charges against him.
A group of Thai senators and other opponents have made another lese majeste complaint, saying Mr Thaksin insulted the royals when he called for reform in a British newspaper article published this week
The allegations of insulting the royal family come as Mr Thaksin is embroiled in the midst of a diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia.
Mr Thaksin says he was misquoted and that he remains loyal to the royal family.
But he was critical of the Thai elites who form what he calls a "royal circle" of influence and are opposed to his populist style of government.
Earlier, Thai diplomats handed over a formal letter to Cambodian officials seeking his extradition.
Mr Thaksin, was toppled three years ago in a coup and is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.
He arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday to take up his new position as economic adviser and was welcomed by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen says Mr Thaksin's corruption conviction last year was political.
Mr Thaksin is expected to deliver an address to economists on Thursday in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia says Mr Thaksin cannot discuss politics while he's in the country.
Lese majeste charges
Earlier, opponents of Mr Thaksin levelled fresh lese majeste charges against him.
A group of Thai senators and other opponents have made another lese majeste complaint, saying Mr Thaksin insulted the royals when he called for reform in a British newspaper article published this week
The allegations of insulting the royal family come as Mr Thaksin is embroiled in the midst of a diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia.
Mr Thaksin says he was misquoted and that he remains loyal to the royal family.
But he was critical of the Thai elites who form what he calls a "royal circle" of influence and are opposed to his populist style of government.
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