Thai-cambodian Relations

[peecee]

Aiding and abetting a country with an active border dispute with your nation. This ain't like a Canadian going to work in Washington as an adviser. More like Argentina and Venezuela....

Wow, Argentina and Venezuela must have worked seriously hard to create that border dispute, given that they are 2000 kilometers away from one another....

Maybe it's an Ocean dispute! Thai Cambodia is more of an Asean conflagration!!

[Yoshitaka]

Who need the oil & gas more? Thailand or Cambodia?

[xminator]

Those poll results look weird.

Support for Abhisit up from 23.3% to 68.6% in two months? Don't Knows down from 65.2% to 10.3%. Anti-Abhisit up from 11.5% to 21.1%

The timing of its release is perfect, and the numbers pulled out of someones ass after the previous failure lost his job. Its propaganda at its finest.

[Publicus]

Those poll results look weird.

Support for Abhisit up from 23.3% to 68.6% in two months? Don't Knows down from 65.2% to 10.3%. Anti-Abhisit up from 11.5% to 21.1%

The timing of its release is perfect, and the numbers pulled out of someones ass after the previous failure lost his job. Its propaganda at its finest.

Being the master himself, Thaksin has to feel a certain admiration at such a marvel as this instant hot noodle poll. That is, if he has any rationality left to him.

[Insight]

Jayboy 0

Rinrada and Insight 1

- fail

- win

Get a job.

[Publicus]

Jayboy 0

Rinrada and Insight 1

- fail

- win

Get a job.

Life.

[Rumfoord]

- fail

Get a job.

Life.

get a brain and stay sober.

nobody wins here if all overreact, having emotional outbursts, become angry and resort to nationalistic mania.

Cambodia - zero points

Thailand - one minus point

i agree with Asa as quoted below:

Over appointment of TS advisory post, it over reacts. Thailand need not create an enmity out of Cambodia or other neighbours. Abhisit has many times shown his desire to be tough, all at the wrong times. Where he should be more open and direct, he dodges and goes around. Where he should be more diplomatic, he is childishly rude and stiff. If he cannot take he leader roles right, how we can trust him to lead. What is Thailand gain in going blatantly against Cambodia? A popular PM?

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand need the petroleum resources in the overlapping area more than Cambodia.

Mark DARE NOT speak to Hun Sen again in Japan. Just like Hua Hin.

Very much yes, it's not for Mark to sit with Hun Sen (or vice versa) without high level officials of the foreign ministries first sitting down to lay the ground rules of any such meeting, to assure comminication is clear and that a harmoneous result is realized for all to see.

Sitting down willy nilly, especially with a loose cannon such as Hun Sen, is definitely unwise and Thai foreign ministry officials know this. Both Mark and Hun Sen also would expect Asean to be helpful too, which would require more time to talk and get the ducks in a row for each party.

The onus to seeking any resolution of this mess rests squarely (pun intended) with Hun Sen. Abhisit is the guy to satisfy because Hun Sen is the aggressor, so Abhisit properly will wait until Hun Sen comes to his senses (what did I write??? Hun Sen come to his senses?!?!).

It isn't a prerequisite that Abhisit be civil with Hun Sen whatsoever. Dealing with Cambodia actively harbouring Thaksin is a far easier situation than trying to handle him being in Dubai/Hong Kong or god knows where. This is actually a chance to (as weird as it seems) to slowly negotiate a way to shut Thaksin up. Let him be the go-between for business, and I think Thaksin may be happy. The land dispute has been running for donkeys years, and Thaksin won't live as long as a donkey. Let it remain up in the air for years to come.

Abhisit really needs to throw the farmers a bone right now, price guarantees, loan guarantees, crop failure guarantees, free seedlings, export assistance, changwat co-ops. He needs to acknowledge that the middle man's days are numbered and he will be a hero in the N.East at least. Maybe his fingers can't reach as far as Chiangmai and the North.

The issue is. can Abhisit keep the PAD from stirring the pot. This is a situation, where Abhisit should attend and lay out the intentions of the Thai government to pursue extradition through all legal channels and that is the totality of what he should say.

It is very simple to cast the Cambodian govt as the bad guys in this situation and let Thaksin see out his days in Cambodia. There is absolutely no reason for there to be a confrontation, or an economic stand off. Money talks at the end of the day.

[Insight]

get a brain and stay sober.

Huh?

Are you sure you're aware of the post ASA was originally referring to with his tongue-in-cheek scoreline?

[Publicus]

Thailand need the petroleum resources in the overlapping area more than Cambodia.

Mark DARE NOT speak to Hun Sen again in Japan. Just like Hua Hin.

Very much yes, it's not for Mark to sit with Hun Sen (or vice versa) without high level officials of the foreign ministries first sitting down to lay the ground rules of any such meeting, to assure comminication is clear and that a harmoneous result is realized for all to see.

Sitting down willy nilly, especially with a loose cannon such as Hun Sen, is definitely unwise and Thai foreign ministry officials know this. Both Mark and Hun Sen also would expect Asean to be helpful too, which would require more time to talk and get the ducks in a row for each party.

The onus to seeking any resolution of this mess rests squarely (pun intended) with Hun Sen. Abhisit is the guy to satisfy because Hun Sen is the aggressor, so Abhisit properly will wait until Hun Sen comes to his senses (what did I write??? Hun Sen come to his senses?!?!).

It isn't a prerequisite that Abhisit be civil with Hun Sen whatsoever. Dealing with Cambodia actively harbouring Thaksin is a far easier situation than trying to handle him being in Dubai/Hong Kong or god knows where. This is actually a chance to (as weird as it seems) to slowly negotiate a way to shut Thaksin up. Let him be the go-between for business, and I think Thaksin may be happy. The land dispute has been running for donkeys years, and Thaksin won't live as long as a donkey. Let it remain up in the air for years to come.

Abhisit really needs to throw the farmers a bone right now, price guarantees, loan guarantees, crop failure guarantees, free seedlings, export assistance, changwat co-ops. He needs to acknowledge that the middle man's days are numbered and he will be a hero in the N.East at least. Maybe his fingers can't reach as far as Chiangmai and the North.

The issue is. can Abhisit keep the PAD from stirring the pot. This is a situation, where Abhisit should attend and lay out the intentions of the Thai government to pursue extradition through all legal channels and that is the totality of what he should say.

It is very simple to cast the Cambodian govt as the bad guys in this situation and let Thaksin see out his days in Cambodia. There is absolutely no reason for there to be a confrontation, or an economic stand off. Money talks at the end of the day.

Throwing money at the peasants of the northern arc from Chaing Rai to Undon Thani is indeed vital to the viability and future of Abhisit's government and to shutting out Thaksin long enuff for the peasants Thaksin relies upon and expoits to forget about him.

However, how many among us could see Thaksin as being satisfied to see out his days as a business facilitator, much less in Cambodia? The guy's long since lost it, even before he had to fly by night to avoid imprisonment, and is hel_l bent to remake Thailand in his own image. First Cambodia, then Thaksin's only world, the LOS.

Abhisit has shown survivalist capabilities that go well beyond those limited abilities his detractors always had assigned to him. Mark needs to show his pragmatism and survivalist instincts by showering the peasants of the North and Northeast with money. After all, for all the noise some Reds make about democracy, the love the peasantry have of Thaksin, the universal fact is that money talks at the end of the day.

And very loudly besides.

Edited November 6, 2009 by Publicus

[Rumfoord]

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya

---

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand

Press Release

- Termination of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Thai Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia regarding the Area of their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf

November 6, 2009, 4:41 pm

On 6 November 2009, Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, who is currently attending the 1st Mekong-Japan Summit in Tokyo, gave a telephone interview on latest developments of Thai-Cambodian relations. Gist as follows:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand has carefully considered the making of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Thai Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia regarding the Area of their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf, dated 18 June 2001 (MOU 2001), which was concluded by Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra's government. Having learned that Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin has been appointed as an economic advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand will propose to the Cabinet that the said MOU be terminated for the following reasons:

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the view that the appointment of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin as an economic advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia will directly affect negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia under the framework of this MOU due to the fact that Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin was directly involved in the negotiation process. Accordingly, the Royal Thai Government cannot continue negotiations with Cambodia under the said MOU.

2. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the view that the overlapping claims of area between Thailand and Cambodia are matters of national interest, in particular, when considering that the overlapping area is over 26,000 square kilometres and has great potential in terms of natural resources. Negotiations on this matter thus affect immensely the economic and national security of Thailand. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deems it appropriate to proceed on this matter with public participation in line with democratic principles enshrined in the provisions of the present Constitution.

3. Negotiations under the framework of the MOU 2001 during the previous eight years have produced no progress. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the view that both countries should employ other avenues of negotiation in accordance with the principles of international law to achieve an equitable solution.

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=23409

--------------------------

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand

Press Release

- Royal Thai Government’s Position Regarding the Recent Appointment of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra as Adviser to the Royal Government of Cambodia

November 5, 2009, 5:30 pm

Following the recent appointment of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to the Royal Government of Cambodia and personal adviser to Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and the decision to deny any request for extradition of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin in accordance with the Extradition Treaty between Thailand and Cambodia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state the following:

1. The Royal Thai Government has conveyed to the Royal Government of Cambodia on several occasions that bilateral relations between both countries should take precedence over any personal relationship.

2. Actions taken by the Royal Government of Cambodia involving Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin cannot be separated from relations between the two countries. As Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin is a fugitive in a criminal case and is still active politically in Thailand, such actions inevitably affect the sentiment of the people of Thailand.

3. The appointment of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin as economic adviser to the Royal Government of Cambodia and personal adviser to Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen is therefore seen as interference in Thailand’s domestic affairs and failure to respect Thailand’s judicial system. It puts personal interest and relations before the national interests of the two countries.

4. Therefore, the Royal Thai Government cannot stand idly by and has to take into consideration the sentiment of its people. Any action taken by the Royal Thai Government is to make known to the Royal Government of Cambodia the resentment of the Thai people.

5. The aforementioned action of the Royal Government of Cambodia has thus compelled the Royal Thai Government to review its relations with Cambodia and to take the following measures:

5.1 Recall the Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh.

5.2 Review all existing bilateral agreements and cooperation projects made with Cambodia.

5.3 Review ongoing cooperation that the Royal Thai Government has extended to Cambodia. It is with regret that the Royal Thai Government must undertake such a review as it has always been the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to cooperate with Cambodia for the development of the Cambodian people’s livelihood and to narrow the gap between Cambodia and other ASEAN member countries.

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/35.php?id=23403

[tb86]

One would imagine that holding a position in a foriegn government would pretty much make you ineligable to return to politics in ones home country, by being sworn in to a office in Cambodia your going to have to formally align yourself with the best intrests of Cambodia, and possibly against Thailand. Personaly I think taxins appointment maybe one of the best things possible for the current pm.... you couldnt buy better pr to make the guy look like a bigger traitor.

[oevna]

"Thaksin's appointment is seen as an interference in Thailand's domestic affairs and a failure to respect the Thai judicial system," he said.

<sarcasm>

Because it is truly a judicial system worthy of respect.

</sarcasm>

[BIGTOE3]

Does Thaskin still have his Thai Police bodyguards ?

He did in the UK.

BT

[Rumfoord]

Actions taken by the Royal Government of Cambodia involving Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin cannot be separated from relations between the two countries. As Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin is a fugitive in a criminal case and is still active politically in Thailand, such actions inevitably affect the sentiment of the people of Thailand.

emphasis in boldface added

surprisingly, they still referring to him as Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra.

and according to the Thai Government the problem is the following:

Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra wrongdoings:

• - fugitive in a criminal case
  
• - is still active politically
  

Royal Government of Cambodia wrongdoings:

• - deny any request for extradition of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin (calling such request only politically motivated)
  
• - failure to respect Thailand’s judicial system (calling the conviction only politically motivated)
  

[Supernova]

surprisingly, they still referring to him as Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra.

and according to the Thai Government the problem is the following:

Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra wrongdoings:

• - fugitive in a criminal case
  
• - is still active politically
  

Royal Government of Cambodia wrongdoings:

• - deny any request for extradition of Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin (calling such request only politically motivated)
  
• - failure to respect Thailand's judicial system (calling the conviction only politically motivated)
  

And why not? Last I heard, Mr. T hasn't been stripped of his police rank.

According to the locals...

Royal Thai Government (Abhisit and Co.) wrongdoings:

• - failure to govern
  
• - spending too much time and resources pursuing one man
  

Edited November 6, 2009 by Supernova

[webfact]

DIPLOMATIC ROW

Maritime pact scrapped

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Published on November 7, 2009

PM Abhisit : Cambodia must make first move to defuse conflict FM Kasit : Situation has changed since Thaksin's appointment

Thailand yesterday terminated the memorandum of understanding on overlapping maritime areas with Cambodia that was signed during Thaksin Shinawatra's administration in 2001.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was adopting a "wait-and-see" approach on the current conflict with the neighbouring country.

Speaking via telephone conference from Tokyo, Foreign Ministry Kasit Piromya said the circumstances surrounding the MoU had changed as Thaksin was now appointed an adviser to the Cambodian government.

"Thaksin knows the Thai position, so Thailand cannot negotiate with Cambodia based on this agreement," he said.

Responding later by video conference to questions from reporters at Government House, Abhisit said: " It was not Thailand that had started it [the current dispute] - it was the Cambodians.

Therefore, it is they who have to review their position. Right now, we are adopting a wait-and-see approach."

When asked if he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at an official dinner last night in Tokyo, Abhisit said his counterpart was seated quite a distance from him and that there was a vase between them obstructing his view.

Thailand signed the MoU on the area of overlapping maritime claims in the continental shelf in 2001, but the two countries have not yet made progress on developing and sharing of benefit in the area, Kasit said.

The 26,000-square-kilometre area, with abundant natural gas, is regarded as being in Thailand's national interest and everyone involved should participate in the development of the resource in accordance with the new Constitution, he said.

The Cabinet will discuss the MoU's termination next week and will inform Phnom Penh at an early opportunity, Kasit added.

The termination has further fuelled tensions in relations between Thailand and Cambodia, as the two countries on Thursday announced the downgrading of bilateral ties and recalled their ambassadors.

Thailand and Cambodia granted natural-gas concessions in the overlapping area to many companies, but they cannot exploit the resource as long as the countries are unable to reach any agreement.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, meanwhile, threatened to close the Thai-Cambodian border to trade if Cambodia continued to take an aggressive stance towards the government.

Noppadon Pattama, foreign minister under the Samak Sundaravej administration, said recalling the Thai ambassador was "damaging to Thailand and placed the country at unnecessary risk".

"It's inappropriate to use politics to pressure a neighbouring country," he said.

Suriyasai Katasila, spokesman for the People's Alliance for Democracy, denounced Thaksin for allowing himself to be use by Cambodia and praised the government for the measures taken in response to Cambodia.

He urged the government to review bilateral agreements between the countries, especially ones that place Thailand at a disadvantage on the issue of overlapping claims.

In Phnom Penh, Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan dismissed the threats late yesterday and said closing the border would be "an overreaction" that would hurt Thai businessmen more than it would hurt Cambodians living in the area.

He added that Thailand should respect the contents of the agreement on oil and gas exploration.

"They should abide by their international obligations," he said. "This kind of panic [reaction] by the Thai government - they should hold onto their credibility." Thaksin was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before being toppled by a coup. He faces a two-year jail sentence in Thailand for abuse of power for allowing his billionaire wife in 2003 to successfully bid on a prime plot of Bangkok land in a government

-- The Nation 2009/11/07

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

Embassy on alert but life goes on

By The Nation

Published on November 7, 2009

A senior Thai security officer in Bangkok said yesterday that intelligence and security agencies were drafting contingency plans that included the downsizing of staff at the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh, as well as an evacuation in case the diplomatic tensions translate into another anti-Thai riot.

Thai businessmen in Cambodia have been briefed about the situation and will continue to remain engaged with embassy staff for regular updates, the officer said on condition of anonymity.

But while the diplomatic fallout has forced officials there to look over their shoulders, no one thinks diplomatic tension will translate into another anti-Thai riot as was seen in January 2003 when the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was torched along with Thai-owned businesses and other establishments.

According to the officer - who is observing the situation very closely - the embassy in Phnom Penh has been instructed to continue with standard operating procedures for the time being.

About 50 armed police and soldiers are posted in front of the embassy, said the officer, who added that there were no signs of any sort of protest in the making.

"Unlike the anti-Thai riot [in 2003], the Cambodia government appears to be taking adequate preventive measures to prevent a similar incident," said the officer.

"But then again, public protests are often orchestrated by political figures. If someone wants to see the embassy attacked again, they can set things in motion," said the officer.

Changes to standard operating prodcedures will depend on the situation on the ground. But as of yesterday there had been no restrictions on the movements of officers assigned to the embassy, according to another intelligence officer.

Thailand's 2nd Army Region commander, Lt-General Weewalit Jorasamrit, said the situation along the border near the Preah Vihear Temple remained normal.

"Contrary to some news reports, Cambodia has not at all called for reinforcements. We have not increased the number of our troops either," he said.

Crossing along the Thai-Cambodia common border also continued as usual yesterday as local residents and small traders carried on with their daily activities.

More than 5,000 Cambodian vendors and workers travelled past the Ban Khlong Leuk checkpoint yesterday to earn their livings in Na Klua market.

At their stalls, the Cambodian traders were seen glued to TV to check news updates about Thai-Cambodian relations.

Thai gamblers, however, were clearly reluctant to travel to casinos in Cambodia's Poi Pet.

Not many Thais went past Aranyaprathet to the casinos yesterday.

The tension has also taken its toll on the air-travel industry, as some foreign visitors heading to Cambodia via Thailand decided to remain in Thailand for the duration of their holidays.

-- The Nation 2009/11/07

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Insight]

Disorder - Can you post quotes in full please, and stop fiddling with them? I have no idea the quote in your last post is referring to without clicking the link.

Thanks for your co-operation.

[dataserver]

Maritime pact scrapped

Thailand yesterday terminated the memorandum of understanding on overlapping maritime areas with Cambodia that was signed during Thaksin Shinawatra's administration in 2001.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was adopting a "wait-and-see" approach on the current conflict with the neighbouring country.

The 26,000-square-kilometre area, with abundant natural gas, is regarded as being in Thailand's national interest and everyone involved should participate in the development of the resource in accordance with the new Constitution, he said.

The Cabinet will discuss the MoU's termination next week and will inform Phnom Penh at an early opportunity, Kasit added.

It's no wonder the dispute exists as long as the Cambodia thinks their maritime border juts out at a right angle immediately where the sea starts. It just thinly misses encompassing the the chain of islands of Koh Chang in this bizarre and absurd and unrealistic expectation of theirs.

[Thailand]

what do you mean? He's up in opinion polls...No points lost as far as I can see.

Oh dear, is this you you measure things - ABAC polls asking a few urban Sino-Thai housewives how they feel?

Following a snap poll of 7 caddies on a local golf course.

Results from 1 month ago:

Popularity-Thaksin 100%- Abhisit- what/where is that?

Results from Friday

Popularity Thaksin 100% -Abhisit - what/where is that? And what/who is a Cambodia?

So little change here, we will conduct a similar survey next month.

Disclaimer;

We cannot guarantee the results of this poll as the questions were asked in English and the answers were given in Thai and the results are based on what we thought the caddies said.

[samran]

what do you mean? He's up in opinion polls...No points lost as far as I can see.

Oh dear, is this you you measure things - ABAC polls asking a few urban Sino-Thai housewives how they feel?

really don't get you. Post 45 you thought my position was reasonable.

Or, didn't you realise that you were responding to me in post 45? But you are now so feel the need to be dismissive?

Strange. Can't explain it otherwise....I thought your postings were always well though out....a sign of your superior intelligence, intellectual grounding and your ability to out-debate the rest of us. Guess not.

[phupaman]

Hi All.

What would Thaksins position be if a real shooting war broke out between Thailand and Cambodia?

He has really compromised himself on this one, What do you think he will advise Hun Sen?

I say treat him the same as the UK treated Lord Haw Haw after the last war,What do any country do to traitors and failed revolution leader's? Answer Swift Execution.

phupaman

[robint]

Wait and see, one crook cosies up to another, business as normal in PP. Dont forget the looming storm clouds on the horizon, when ykw shuffles off this mortal coil. The SET soiled itself with fright at the mere rumour of such unsettlement

take a look at the big picture, where will U be in 10 years time

[Ricardo]

You can't revoke an international binding agreement because of overemotional mood swings as if in meno pause. Only alterations can be made when mutually agreed.

Wouldn't that apply equally to Hun Sen refusing to honour an extradition-treaty ?

Thaksin would have been long before extradited if the situation would have warranted it. Like from England, Germany, Malaysia, UAE and others. Most refused to accept him in their country to avoid political meddling with Thailand but that is not an equivalent reason for an extradition and/or agreement by international standards.

Nice try, but you didn't answer my question.

Either the MOU and the extradition-treaty should be respected, or they can both be disregarded, you can't have it both ways.

[fullcave]

It's no wonder the dispute exists as long as the Cambodia thinks their maritime border juts out at a right angle immediately where the sea starts. It just thinly misses encompassing the the chain of islands of Koh Chang in this bizarre and absurd and unrealistic expectation of theirs.

Absolutely agree it's absurd...

[Rumfoord]

The Nation

...

Responding later by video conference to questions from reporters at Government House, Abhisit said: " It was not Thailand that had started it [the current dispute] - it was the Cambodians.

Therefore, it is they who have to review their position. Right now, we are adopting a wait-and-see approach."

When asked if he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at an official dinner last night in Tokyo, Abhisit said his counterpart was seated quite a distance from him and that there was a vase between them obstructing his view.

did he said that? " there was a vase between them obstructing his view."? really?

[jayboy]

what do you mean? He's up in opinion polls...No points lost as far as I can see.

Oh dear, is this you you measure things - ABAC polls asking a few urban Sino-Thai housewives how they feel?

really don't get you. Post 45 you thought my position was reasonable.

Or, didn't you realise that you were responding to me in post 45? But you are now so feel the need to be dismissive?

Strange. Can't explain it otherwise....I thought your postings were always well though out....a sign of your superior intelligence, intellectual grounding and your ability to out-debate the rest of us. Guess not.

I must admit I was being facetious about the ABAC poll.I agree however Abhisit's actions on this matter have done him no harm domestically.Having said that my earlier "petulant child" remark doesn't look too far from the truth with the growing diplomatic response both in ASEAN and elsewhere that Abhisit ramped up the conflict too quickly and too unthinkingly.

[hammered]

Maritime pact scrapped

Thailand yesterday terminated the memorandum of understanding on overlapping maritime areas with Cambodia that was signed during Thaksin Shinawatra's administration in 2001.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was adopting a "wait-and-see" approach on the current conflict with the neighbouring country.

The 26,000-square-kilometre area, with abundant natural gas, is regarded as being in Thailand's national interest and everyone involved should participate in the development of the resource in accordance with the new Constitution, he said.

The Cabinet will discuss the MoU's termination next week and will inform Phnom Penh at an early opportunity, Kasit added.

It's no wonder the dispute exists as long as the Cambodia thinks their maritime border juts out at a right angle immediately where the sea starts. It just thinly misses encompassing the the chain of islands of Koh Chang in this bizarre and absurd and unrealistic expectation of theirs.

A truly amazing claim.

[hammered]

what do you mean? He's up in opinion polls...No points lost as far as I can see.

Oh dear, is this you you measure things - ABAC polls asking a few urban Sino-Thai housewives how they feel?

really don't get you. Post 45 you thought my position was reasonable.

Or, didn't you realise that you were responding to me in post 45? But you are now so feel the need to be dismissive?

Strange. Can't explain it otherwise....I thought your postings were always well though out....a sign of your superior intelligence, intellectual grounding and your ability to out-debate the rest of us. Guess not.

I must admit I was being facetious about the ABAC poll.I agree however Abhisit's actions on this matter have done him no harm domestically.Having said that my earlier "petulant child" remark doesn't look too far from the truth with the growing diplomatic response both in ASEAN and elsewhere that Abhisit ramped up the conflict too quickly and too unthinkingly.

But why assume it is only or even Abhisit they blame. Hun Sen was the one that raised the stakes by appointing someone who was a convicted criminal (technically that is fact) and at least in statements wanted for extraditon. Prior to this move Kasit said some horrible things about Hun Sen and Hun Sen said some horrible things about Abhisit and his government. That however, was kids play. Plenty of leaders including western ones make horrible comments about other world leaders and governments ion a dialy basis. How many countries in the world would like a neighbour to appoint an ex-politco convicted of a crime and sought for extradtion as an adviser and how would the hurt country react? Just imagine if say Jordan or even worse great satan Iran appointed Mullah Omar as an adviser, and he hasnt even been convicted of anything.

Hun Sen is playing his own political game and if he can get a better gas/oil deal promised by Thaksin from a PTP government and he can also be seen by his people as standing up to the old enemy then it poltically helps him. The current Thai govenment are bound to react to this. Recalling the ambassador and ripping up an MoU negotiated directly under Thaksin and one which was quite nice for the Cambodians are pretty much in line with what would be expected. You can find similar examples in Latin America where say Colombia and Venezuela regularly recall amabassadors for various slights maybe of a lesser nature than this. It is also within a context of deteriorating relations between Thailand and Cambodia over quite some time.