Peace prevails during Hun Sen visit

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Doubts remain over Cambodian premier's intentions; Noppadon slams report on ex-PM Thaksin's Cambodian citizenship as a lie

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's tour yesterday morning of Preah Vihear Temple - the subject of conflicting territorial claims with Thailand - went off without any incidents, but doubts remained as to his intentions in making the visit.

Arriving at 10am in fatigues, Hen Sen was met by Second Army Area chief Lt-General Veerawit Kajornrith and Si Sa Ket Governor Rapee Pongbupakit. Thai Ambassador to Cambodia Prasart Prasartvinichai was also present.

Earlier at 9am, there were some tense moments at Kaewsikhakirisawaria Temple in the disputed area, but no gunfire was exchanged.

A group of Thais led by rural activist Veeraphon Sopha said they would defend the sovereignity of the four border provinces of Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Sa Kaew.

They vowed to start up villages along the border to prevent Cambodians from occupying Thai soil.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said if the Cambodian premier enters Thai territory, then there will be people ready to receive him.

The situation remained normal, but Hun Sen has been making comments about Thai politics as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra makes political moves, he said.

Noppadon Pattama, a former foreign minister and Thaksin's legal aide, criticised the Democrat Party and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for spreading a "lie" about Thaksin obtaining Cambodian citizenship.

Thaksin travels on Montenegro and Nicaraguan passports but is not a citizen of the two countries, he said.

Cambodia's Rasmi Kampuchia reported on Friday that Thailand is entering a state of anarchy with the red shirts - Thaksin sympathisers - ready to overthrow the government. The paper blamed the PAD for distracting public attention with the border dispute.

Recruitment for Thaksin's People's Army ended in Bangkok but more enlistment opportunities will be held upcountry, said Army specialist Maj-General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol.

-- The Nation 2010-02-07

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It is clear what is happening. They will never actually "go to war."

Thailand wants its public to focus on an "external enemy" to divert attention away from internal problems.

Cambodia wants it public to focus on an "external enemy" to divert attention away from internal problems.

This is nothing but a political game to keep the masses confused and looking in the wrong direction.

Both countries will play this game as long as it works.

Because if the source of each countries problems is actually apparent to the masses, well.........guess what might happen.

How come the PAD didnt occupy the disputed land then.

Oh, no "elite" army to hide behind there eh, only another army waiting to shove the bayonet up.

Mardarses

Glad to see it went off peacefully, no doubt saddened certain members here who were hoping for the worst scenario.

Be nice if the posturing stopped and both governments got on with what they were "elected" (using that term loosely) to do- or perhaps expected to do, benefit the individual countries.

It's good the visit went off without a major incident.

It's good the visit went off without a major incident.

Precisely. I think that is the point here.

Peace always prevails, unless men actively make it go away.

Posturing sometimes goes beyond it's intentions,

so far this is not the case. But lets hope it doesn't get worse.

What happened with the PAD principles , together with the yellow shirts out here.

The PAD and their supporters yellowshirts have a history of just going breaking the law and taking what they believe is theirs of right.

They have done it sevearal times with impunity and without fear of comeback, and indeed no comeback.

The PAD and yellowshirts have done a lot of mouthing about the disputed land.

But why did they not do what they have always done up to now, just go and take it.

Possibly because they know in this instance there is international law that WILL deal with them, and also perhaps they know there is a real army waiting for them wishing they would .

Really principled group the PAD and its supporters.

What happened with the PAD principles , together with the yellow shirts out here.

The PAD and their supporters yellowshirts have a history of just going breaking the law and taking what they believe is theirs of right.

They have done it sevearal times with impunity and without fear of comeback, and indeed no comeback.

The PAD and yellowshirts have done a lot of mouthing about the disputed land.

But why did they not do what they have always done up to now, just go and take it.

Possibly because they know in this instance there is international law that WILL deal with them, and also perhaps they know there is a real army waiting for them wishing they would .

Really principled group the PAD and its supporters.

You're so out of date colonel clod, pink is the fashion now, not yellow.

The PAD will have their day in court and some will be sent to prison, if they don't die before exhausting all appeals.

Note a lot of Thais of Chinese descent will be wearing pink rather than the traditional red this weekend.

Wonder if Hun Sen is even the slightest bit aware what outbursts like the one he had yesterday does for Abhisit's popularity here?

Judging by the poetry expressed in the translation, I doubt it.

/edit - unless it's a very desperate attempt to provoke a conflict. Doubt that will occur either, even if people here push for it.

Hun Sen seems a little faux peeved that he didnt get to lord it over the Thai controlled temple. Guess it distracts attention from him having the leader of the oppostion effectively exiled and also from the encroachment onto Cambodian land by his Vietnamese backers that the Cambodian opposition were highlighting.

Hun Sen is reported by 'The Nation' as having been wearing fatigues, or military costume.

Could he have been hoping for the opportunity to join, what Seh Daeng is so revealingly reported to have called "Thaksin's People's Army", in a senior rank perhaps ?

Or was he just making some wider point, to the Thai people, or to his own troops on the border ?

Happily (as most agree) everything went peacefully, despite some posters' mocking the PAD, for not causing an international-incident or invading a neighbouring country.

Right seems one side would prefer the other be stupidly nationalistic,

because then they can rail at them... when they don't fall into the trap

they are called spineless. Oh yes always a name to call,

but never a viable solution given for the problems of the day.

The Government did good, making Khmer PM thinked twice to visit Prasart Ta Muen Thom and face PAD protesters. More, they have to come unarmed. This is one of the time they do it right.

There is one little question concerning the 4.6 sqkm land claimed by Cambodia, and that is why the Thai admits it as a disputed area and let Khmer villagers moving freely as sole occupants. Why don't they apply the same rules and send troops in to cover it, as they do with Prasart Ta Muen, leave the Khmer to only Pra Viharn ruins, should we honour the Hague ruling. But there isn't any dispute 4.6 sqkm, never be. Thai has every right to claim the ruin as much as Cambodia, because it was built by our ancesters too.

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It's good the visit went off without a major incident.

Hun Sen appears and Scott is close behind. Coincidence?

The Government did good, making Khmer PM thinked twice to visit Prasart Ta Muen Thom and face PAD protesters. More, they have to come unarmed. This is one of the time they do it right.

There is one little question concerning the 4.6 sqkm land claimed by Cambodia, and that is why the Thai admits it as a disputed area and let Khmer villagers moving freely as sole occupants. Why don't they apply the same rules and send troops in to cover it, as they do with Prasart Ta Muen, leave the Khmer to only Pra Viharn ruins, should we honour the Hague ruling. But there isn't any dispute 4.6 sqkm, never be. Thai has every right to claim the ruin as much as Cambodia, because it was built by our ancesters too.

I commend you for accepting the Khmer as your ancestors. I do hope you share your views with other people so that they no longer discriminate against those that have Khmer ancestory. I hope you will honour and respect these ancestors.