Cambodia grabs control of its air traffic
PHNOM PENH – The frosty political relationship between Thailand and Cambodia dipped below freezing again yesterday when authorities in Phnom Penh expelled all Thai officials from their offices at Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS).
The order by the Cambodian government came after charges were filed against a Thai engineer working for CATS.
“Cambodia has charged him with stealing classified information affecting national security,” a secretary to the foreign minister told the Bangkok Post.
CATS, a fully owned subsidiary of Bangkok-based Samart, has been granted a 32-year air traffic control concession.
The firm employs nine Thai officials at the Cambodian airport, all of them either in management or senior engineering positions.
Cambodian authorities said they would send their own people to operate the company.
The engineer was arrested for allegedly obtaining confidential information about the flight details of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and supplying it to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
The latest conflict between the Thai and Cambodian governments started last month when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen made Thaksin an economic adviser to himself and to his government.
Thaksin flew to Dubai this week.
Ian Jarrett
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