Thai-khmer Armed Forces Plan Major Role In Resolving Dispute

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THAI-CAMBODIA DISPUTE

Thai-Khmer armed forces plan major role in resolving dispute

By The Nation

Published on November 28, 2009

Pattaya - The Thai and Cambodian militaries yesterday cemented their roles as pacifying forces amid the Bangkok-Phnom Penh diplomatic showdown, declaring readiness to use their good offices to help patch things up.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and his Cambodian counterpart, Tea Banh, spent yesterday mapping out guidelines for future cooperation and identified specific programmes to serve as a platform for such cooperation.

The meeting, carried out in the context of the General Border Committee, a long-standing forum between military top brass from the two countries, sought to safeguard the current comfort level and not let political fallout affect existing cooperation.

A senior officer from Thailand's Second Army Area with a long history of working with Cambodian authorities said it might seem odd to permit the two militaries to take the leading role in ironing out the differences. But he added the two sides had no political baggage, and would like to close the chapter of past decades, especially during the turbulent period of the Khmer Rogue years, as well as the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia.

It's believed that Cambodian leader Hun Sen never wanted to provoke a military confrontation, hence the decision to permit Tea Banh to maintain good relations with the Thai side.

Among Prawit's delegation were Defence Ministry permanent secretary General Songkitti Jakkrabatra, Army chief General Anupong Paochinda, Navy chief Admiral Kamthorn Phumhiran, Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Supawong, First Army Area commander Lt-General Kanit Sapitak and Second Army Area commander Lt-General Weewalit Jonsamrit.

The two sides agreed to use peaceful means to settle any disagreement. Communications from the ministerial to the operational levels will be kept open at all times.

Both sides want to ensure normal cross-border trade and other activities to "maintain best interests of peoples of the two countries," Prawit said.

When asked about a Thai engineer arrested on spying charges, Tea Banh said the issue was one for Cambodia's courts of law, which will handle the case without prejudice.

Tea Banh said he hoped this cooperation between the countries' militaries at least will help "contain the situation from getting worse".

-- The Nation 2009/11/28

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[chevyinasia]

Does anybody else find it a little suspicious that so shortly after Cambodia appoints Thai political fugitive Thaksin as their Economic Adviser, the militaries are collaborating on "resolving" the situation? It all seems a little too contrived to me.

[BSJ]

From a farang point of view, more those that live close to the border, maintaining the peace is a good thing despite any ulterior motive that is likely to be raised in this thread.

[eTiMaGo]

if this is even slightly true, it's a welcome sign of sanity in this inane madness...

[TAWP]

Does anybody else find it a little suspicious that so shortly after Cambodia appoints Thai political fugitive Thaksin as their Economic Adviser, the militaries are collaborating on "resolving" the situation? It all seems a little too contrived to me.

It's a mere status quo that the military in the border region known each-other and have a history while the politicians try to play up things for their home-audience. The military top brass is just being pragmatic and calm in this regards. Not new nor un-welcomed.

[dieter1]

"Tea Banh said the issue was one for Cambodia's courts of law, which will handle the case without prejudice."

If you know, how corrupt every Cambodian judge is, and know, that Cambodia does not have something like jurisdiction independent from the government (or from the big criminals/politicians/wealthiest ) you have every reason to fear the worst for this Thai engineer !!!!

http://cpj.org/2006/07/cambodia-government...ges-against.php

Cambodias "political system" is called a cleptocracy

Cleptocracy

A cleptocracy is generally a more specific description of a dictatorship: literally, a cleptocracy is a government sustained by stealing. As such, the circle of power must necessarily be a small one. The rulers and his or her inner circle steal national resources or the profits thereof (such as diamonds or oil); use foreign aid for personal gain; and use the national treasury to further personal aims. Because such actions would rarely be tolerated by an informed public, the press is often complicit or government-run and democratic features like elections are for show or are nonexistent.

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_sys.html

"CAMBODIA is being systematically stripped of its natural assets by a small elite of politicians, relatives of its prime minister, and businessmen working with the army,..."

ARMY !!!!

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2...cratic-plunder/

"CAMBODIA: World Bank Faces Kleptocracy Test"

‘’If implemented, the proposed U.S. ban would (prohibit) senior Cambodian ministers, top-ranking generals and others’’

from entering the US, .... "

Transparency International

"In its 2006 corruption survey for the Asia-Pacific region, .... described Cambodia as being among those with ‘’the highest perception of corruption.’’

"The annual timber haul from illegal logging was estimated to be over 13 million US dollars, the report, ‘Cambodia’s Family Tree,’ noted. Consequently, 30 percent of the country’s forest cover has been wiped off over a five-year period, it added. ‘’Illegal logging in Cambodia not only fills the pockets of the political elite; it also funds the activities of a 6,000-strong private army controlled by Hun Sen.’’

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38811

These are the real important facts about this country. The rest is just blabla from these criminals /politicians.

They are murdering there people, stealing, let them starve to death(cambodia) (now ! I am not talking about Khmer Rouge !)

(the people of Cambodia are not dieing by millions, just because the country gets international help for decades)

and these shitty criminals are filling there pockets with billions (!) of $ (and what else) (in fact, pockets cant be big enough for this, so they use the international bank system for this, having accounts abroad, nearly unimaginable big)

If someone wants to do this job, I will be happy to pay the bill for the bullet every day !

But the chance is near zero, these <deleted> will ever be punished some day !

Please you "hang him up brigade" ! This is your chance !

[mca]

But he added the two sides had no political baggage

Yeah the Thai army steer well clear of politics don't they.

[geriatrickid]

Gosh, why not just get rid of facade of civilian rule and just acknowledge that it is the military that calls the shots in Cambodia and Thailand.