Fugitive politician Thaksin Shinawatra made his third visit to Cambodia on Wednesday since being appointed economic adviser and was scheduled to leave the country on Thursday, Cambodian government spokesman Prak Sokhon said.
"He is free to come and go," he replied when asked about the purpuse of Thaksin's visit. "He doesn't need to have a motive to come here."
He said he did not know if Thaksin would meet with members of the Puea Thai Party, as he had on previous visits.
Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia's minister of information, said Thaksin came to give economic advice to the government, and he and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had dinner together on Wednesday night.
He also said Thaksin would not hold a press conference during this visit.
Meanwhile, the director of Suvarnabhumi airport on Thursday called on Thaksin's supporters to rethink any plans for a protest rally there, saying it would cause severe damage to the country's image and the tourism sector.
Nirun Tiranartsin made the plea on learning that the red-shirts may rally at the entrance of Suvarnabhumi airport to press for speedier legal proceedings against People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leaders who led the blockade of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in late 2008.
"I would like all people, regardless of what colour they belong to, to bear in minds that the airport is not a place to be used for political bargaining.
"Please go somewhere else. Once protesters show up, passengers' travel to and from the airport will be obstructed and a worldwide telecast of the rally would scare away visitors," Mr Nirun said.
Mr Nirun said although it was still uncertain whether the red-shirts' rally at Suvarnabhumi would materialise, Airports of Thailand Co (AoT) had been in contact with Sumut Prakan authorities to prepare measures to cope with it. Laws against terrorism would be enforced to prevent a recurrence of the airports blockade in November 2008.
The Suvarnabhumi director said a rally would heavily affect the tourism industry as it is now the peak season for visitors from Europe and other parts of Asia such as China, Taiwan and Japan.
"Once they hear about an airport rally, they will panic and cancel their trip," Mr Nirun said.
So far there had been no reports of an unusual rate of cancellations, he said. An average of 120,000 passengers arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport each day.
Earlier the day, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called on the red-shirt supporters to reconsider its plan to gather at Siriraj Hospital, as it could make the majority of people in the country worried and there were other means to protest.
His Majesty the King is in Siriraj Hospital. He been there since Sept 19 last year, being treated for inflammation of the lungs.
UDD core member Arisman Pongrueangrong said on Wednesday, after submitting a petition to Prime Minister Abhisit to take legal action against privy councilor Surayud Chulanont for encroaching on a forest reserve, that he planned to rally at all residences of other privy councilors to ask for their standpoints on Gen Surayud's case.
Mr Arisman said after that the would hold a press conference on the privy councillors’ opinions involving Gen Surayud’s land ownership on Khao Yai Thiang.
The red-shirt people group planned to report His Majesty the King at Siriraj hospital on the unsuitable behavior of his advisor.
Source: Bangkok Post
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