RIYADH, 20 August 2004 — Thailand has stepped up efforts to conclude the cases of four Saudi diplomats, who were murdered nearly 14 years ago in Bangkok, in a move to put the era of strained relations behind.
A Saudi-Thai task force will be entrusted with the responsibility to supervise the progress in three cases, including the case of the diplomats’ murder.
This was announced by Krerkpan Roekchamnong, director of information at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who said that “we have already ordered fresh investigations not only into the murder case but in all the three cases including the gems and jewelry case”. He said that “a joint investigation team representing the Kingdom and Thailand will review the progress and suggest ways to settle all outstanding issues amicably.”
“The mandate of the investigation has also been broadened and the Thai Ministry of Justice will be supervising investigations directly,” said Roekchamnong, adding that “the strained relations following the murder of diplomats and other ugly incidents, which took place at that time, had been hampering political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.” “The Thai side is greatly concerned about improving bilateral ties,” he said.
At the time of February 1989 murders, a Thai worker in Saudi Arabia stole jewels and gems worth millions of dollars and sent them home in a crate of apples. This case has also been reopened, because a number of valuable gems and jewelry pieces have not been recovered so far. Shortly after the murder of teh diplomats, a Saudi businessman was kidnapped from Bangkok and he has not been seen since then. Thai police, accused of favoring the culprits at that time, suggested that all the cases were connected.
Roekchamnong and First Secretary Ekatt Thitaram pointed out that “we are committed to resolve all existing problems with Saudi Arabia”.
Thailand had already lost more than $400 million so far in trade and labor export opportunities with Saudi Arabia as a result of the cases. Saudi exports to Thailand totals $1.2 billion annually, whereas Saudi imports exceeds $300 million. Thailand is also working on a proposal to export halal meat and meat products to Saudi Arabia.
