THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s accusation that Thailand is planning to stage a coup in the Kingdom.

“We have no reason to do such a thing. My government has a clear policy to maintain good relations, and we don’t need to resort to violence or disrupt bilateral trade,” Abhisit told reporters Friday.

“Thailand would not interfere in Cambodia’s internal affairs, and Thailand never criticises domestic Cambodian politics,” he added.

My government has a clear policy to maintain good relations....

Last week, Hun Sen told an audience at the opening of a fertiliser factory in Kandal province that he had recently obtained documents that

implicated elements of the Thai government in a plot against him.“I tell you to stop dreaming because I know who is planning this. Just take care of your own country; don’t interfere in Cambodia,” the prime minister said.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been especially acrimonious since fugitive Thai former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited the Kingdom for the first time last month in his capacity as economics adviser to the Cambodian government. Thaksin fled Thailand last year to avoid a prison term for corruption after being ousted in a 2006 coup.

Last week, Thaksin posted a document on his Web site that he said was a note from Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to Abhisit. Though it urged caution in dealings with Cambodia, the document referred to Thaksin as the “main threat” against the Thai government and outlined the possibility of military action against Cambodia in a “worst-case” scenario.

Thai officials have acknowledged that the document did likely originate from Kasit, and have pressed charges against the opposition parliamentarian who initially leaked it.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP