Cambodia Denies Thai Ex-PM Thaksin Made Citizen
Cambodia denies rumors that deposed Thai leader Thaksin granted citizenship
Cambodia on Friday denied a report that Thailand’s disgraced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted citizenship, an allegation that had drawn threats in Bangkok that the billionaire ex-politician could lose his native Thai nationality.
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the allegation, which surfaced earlier this week on “Khmer Intelligence News,” a Cambodian anti-government Web site, was untrue.
“Cambodia never granted Cambodian citizenship to Thaksin,” Khieu Kanharith told The Associated Press. “Even if Cambodia would give him citizenship, I think that Thaksin would not accept it.”
Cambodia late last year named Thaksin, a fugitive from justice in Thailand, as its special economic adviser. The appointment and Thaksin’s subsequent visit to Cambodia angered the government in Bangkok and resulted in a recall of ambassadors from both countries.
