After arriving in Thailand last week, the Cambodian prime minister said he was willing to grant asylum to former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The prime minister said he considers Thaksin a victim of a political ploy in Thailand, but Thai protesters disagreed.

[Chaiwat Sinsuwong, People’s Alliance for Democracy]:
"The former Prime Minister is charged with corruption, the charge is not political. So, we, as Thais, are upset that he (Hun Sen) was a guest in Thailand and he spoke with a bad manner. So, today we are gathering here to show our dissent and condemn Cambodia, Hun Sen only."

Chaiwat is a leader of Thailand's People Alliance for Democracy, also known as PAD. It was the PAD who took to the streets of Bangkok and led a military coup in 2006, which forced Thaksin out of the country on corruption charges.

The Cambodian prime minister has also compared Thaksin to Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a comparison that angered protesters.

[Chaiwat Sinsuwong, People’s Alliance for Democracy]:
"It is very inappropriate to compare Suu Kyi with Thaksin. AungSan Suu Kyi is too clean to be compared to dirty Thaksin."

The relationship between Thailand and Cambodia has deteriorated in the past few years. Last year, relations between the two countries worsened… when Cambodia registered a 12th century Khmer empire temple with UNESCO… that sits on a disputed border with Thailand.