Thai PM, Cabinet members attend royal funeral of late Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk

BANGKOK, October 19 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and some other Thai Cabinet members left for Cambodia Friday afternoon to pay respect to the late and former King Norodom Sihanouk of neighbouring Cambodia. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa told journalists that during the trip, Premier Yingluck is expected to have a chance to explain Cambodians’ misunderstanding on recent news coverage of the royal funeral by a female Thai television reporter that the online Cambodian media have criticized. General Yuthasak confirmed that relations between Thailand and Cambodia remain close, acknowledging that Phnom Penh earlier issued a statement to also confirm sound bilateral relations with Bangkok and to dismiss any intention by some parties to trigger a conflict between both neighbouring nations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Thai TV Channel 3 reporter, Thapanee Iadseechai, said she was sorry and worried that the matter was exaggerated in a way which might affect bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia, acknowledging that she has sent her letter written in English to Cambodian people through the Cambodian embassy. Meanwhile, heads of Thai government agencies and Cambodian people living in Thailand have continued visiting the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok to sign their names to express their mourning towards the death of former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, including Thai Culture Minister Sukumol Khunpluem. The signings will continue at the Cambodian Embassy in the Thai capital on working days, from 10am to 4pm, until October 29. (TNA)