HUN SEN LASHES OUT AT BANGKOK

`Superiority Complex' Behind Border Closure

Cambodian leaders say Thailand's war on drugs and its ``superiority
complex'' forced Phnom Penh to close its border with its bigger neighbour on
Wednesday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen told the opening of a health centre in Siem Reap
yesterday that it was not safe for his countrymen to cross to Thailand
because they might be killed in the anti-drug campaign.

``Thai soldiers have killed more than 1,000 people and arrested more than
10,000,'' Hun Sen said. ``I am very concerned about Cambodian people who go
into Thai territory. They might get shot dead because of the Thai drug
operations.''

Hun Sen said Cambodia closed the border after incidents in Thailand in which
a Cambodian had been shot dead and another seven wounded by Thai security
forces and landmines.

Thai officials said they knew nothing of specific incidents, although
clashes had been reported in recent weeks between security forces and
suspected Cambodian car smugglers.

Hun Sen said another reason Cambodia closed the border on its side was that
Thailand had not fully opened the border after the anti-Thai riots in Phnom
Penh on Jan 29.

``The Cambodian people are permitted to buy goods inside Thailand but the
Thais do not bring their goods to sell in Cambodia,'' he said. ``It is not
equal and not just to have that kind of relationship in trade. It makes it
seem as if Khmers are beggars.''

The Cambodian government would treat Thais as the Thai government treated
Cambodians.

The border closure did not seriously hurt Cambodia because there were plenty
of nations with which it could trade, Hun Sen said.

``If there are no goods from Thailand, don't worry. We have many goods from
China, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia,'' he said. ``Our nation needs
dignity. As a sovereign state, we can't kneel to anyone.''

Bangkok says Thais are barred from crossing the border into Cambodia for
safety reasons.

Defence Minister Tea Banh, meanwhile, said the Thai government had treated
with disdain Phnom Penh's every effort to normalise downgraded ties.

``We have done our best but Thailand always acts like our best is not good
enough,'' Gen Tea Banh said.

Thailand was not a safe country for Cambodian citizens. Ten Cambodians had
been killed in Thailand but Thai authorities considered their lives
meaningless and never conducted an investigation, he said.

Gen Tea Banh said the Cambodian government has expressed its regret and
pledged to pay billions of baht in compensation for damage to the Thai
embassy and businesses in the Jan 29 violence, but it seemed Bangkok was
never satisfied.

The Thai government had delayed attempts to normalise relations by keeping
in place its ban on Thai citizens travelling overland to Cambodia, he said.

``The Thai government is pressuring us too much. We have done everything but
Thailand does not allow things to return to normal. We have been friends for
a long time. Why are they doing this to us?'' Gen Tea Banh said.

He dismissed remarks that the closure was in retaliation for the ban on
Thais travelling to Cambodia by land which has hurt casinos in Cambodia
where Thai gamblers are major customers.

Gen Tea Banh also denied Phnom Penh was playing games with Thailand to avoid
paying compensation.

Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai yesterday said Thailand had no wish
to take an advantage of Cambodia or make unreasonable demands for damage to
Thai properties.

Hun Sen's remarks reflected Cambodia's one-sided attitude towards the
problem. He ignored the fact that what happened in Phnom Penh was a
violation of international laws, Mr Surakiart said.