Cambodia will not extradite former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra based on a request made by the Thai government, the Cambodian government has said.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia likes to make it clear about its position that Cambodia will not extradite Thaksin on any request made by the Thai government if he decides to stay in the kingdom of Cambodia," said a government statement issued on October 23.

The Cambodian government's statement comes a day after Thailand warned that it would request Cambodia to send Thaksin back to Thailand to serve his two-year jail term if he visits the country.

Thailand had made the cautionary note after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia would warmly welcome Thaksin if he expresses his wish to stay in the country.

Hun Sen had also said: "I consider Thaksin as my eternal friend. Cambodia will welcome him to stay here anytime. I will make a house available for him if he decides to visit Cambodia."

His statement had created a stir in Thailand, especially among pro-government factions, prompting the government to play the "extradition" card.

The extradition treaty between the two country states that any party can refuse the extradition request if it considers the demand to be politically motivated, the Cambodian government statement said.

The requested party also has a ground for the mandatory refusal if the requested party has well-founded reasons to suppose that the request for extradition made by the requesting party aims to institute criminal proceedings against or execute punishment upon the person, or that the position of the person sought in judicial proceedings will be prejudiced for any of the reasons mentioned above.

The statement added that based on the two reasons the Cambodian government has a right to make an interpretation on whether the case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is politically motivated or not.

However, the Cambodian government has said Cambodia will maintain its friendly relation and continue to cooperate in all fields with Thailand.

--Rasmei Kampuchea Daily/ANN