サウジとタイ、関係修復　８０年代の宝石窃盗事件で悪化

【リヤドＡＦＰ＝時事】サウジアラビアとタイは２５日、外交関係の修復を発表した。両国関係は、３０年以上前に起きた宝石類の窃盗事件以来、冷え込んでいた。（写真はサウジアラビア・リヤド郊外で会談する、ムハンマド・ビン・サルマン皇太子＜右＞とタイのプラユット・チャンオーチャー首相。国営サウジ通信提供）
　１９８９年、タイ生まれの使用人がサウジの王子の自宅から２０００万ドル（約２３億円）相当の宝石類を盗んだ。これを発端にバンコクで殺人事件が相次いだ他、国家間の対立にも発展。一連の出来事は「ブルーダイヤモンド事件」と呼ばれている。
　タイのプラユット・チャンオーチャー首相がサウジ首都リヤドを訪問したのに合わせ、両国は２５日夜、「外交関係の完全な再樹立」を宣言する共同声明を出した。
　タイはこれまでにも、主要産業である観光業への影響などを考慮し、関係修復を繰り返し模索してきた。
　盗まれた宝石類を、タイの警察幹部が横領したとの疑惑もあり、サウジ側は長年にわたり、タイ警察の捜査に落ち度があったと非難していた。
　タイ警察はその後、宝石類の一部を返還したが、サウジ側は大半が偽物だと主張。希少な５０カラットのブルーダイヤモンドを含む盗品の大部分の所在は、今も明らかになっていない。
　サウジは１９９０年、調査のために実業家をタイに派遣。だが、バンコクでサウジ外交官３人が銃殺される事件が発生した後、実業家も同市内で消息を絶った。
　宝石類を盗んだ使用人は、盗品の大半を逮捕される前に売りさばいていた。窃盗罪で５年間服役し、２０１６年に出家している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/01/27-11:21）

Saudi Arabia and Thailand have announced the resumption of diplomatic ties, after more than three decades of frozen relations linked to the theft of jewels from a Saudi palace.
Thai-born janitor Kriangkrai Techamong stole $20 million worth of precious gems in 1989 from the home of a Saudi prince, triggering a spate of murders in Bangkok and a feud between the countries dubbed the Blue Diamond Affair.
The two countries announced in a joint statement late on Tuesday the full re-establishment of diplomatic relations during a visit by Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to Riyadh.
This historic step is the result of long-standing efforts at different levels to re-establish mutual confidence and friendly relations, the joint statement added, following a meeting between the Thai premier and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The two countries agreed to appoint ambassadors in the near future.
Saudi Airlines meanwhile announced that flights to Thailand would resume in May.
The Thai government said the Saudis had flagged that they were seeking eight million skilled workers, including in hotels, healthcare and construction projects.
Thailand indicated it had a ready supply of skilled workers to help fill the need, Rachada Dhanadirek, a Thai deputy government spokeswoman, said in a statement.
Thailand had repeatedly sought to restore ties, in part to benefit its crucial tourism industry.
Saudi Arabia had long accused Thai police of bungling their investigation into the jewel theft, with allegations that the stolen gems were snapped up by senior officers.
Thai police later returned some of the jewels but Saudi officials claimed most were fakes, while the whereabouts of the most precious gem -- a rare 50-carat blue diamond -- remains unknown.
Riyadh sent a businessman to investigate in 1990 but he disappeared in Bangkok days after three Saudi diplomats were shot dead in the city.
In 2014, due to a lack of evidence, a case was dropped against five men, including a senior Thai policeman, accused of involvement in the Saudi businessman's murder.
Thai government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prayut had expressed regret over the 1989 and 1990 incidents and promised to reopen investigations if any new evidence came to light.
Kriangkrai served five years in jail over the jewel theft and sold most of the gems before his arrest. He became a monk in 2016.
burs-lpm/pdw/oho