Stance By Thailand's Top Brass Seems Childish And Illogical

[Lite Beer]

Stance by the top brass seems childish, illogical

By. The Nation. OPINION.

Generals don't want Jakarta to host Thai-Cambodian border meeting

Maybe we will never see the day, but it is imperative that this country and its people come to an understanding that the military must not be permitted to interfere with politics and that they are going to have to swallow the bitter pill of taking orders from elected civilians.

For too long the country has put up with military interference in national politics. We come out in full force when they cross certain line, such as staging a coup d'etat, but we often overlook smaller incidents that are also important.

The latest fiasco centres on the military's threat to boycott a meeting to be held in Indonesia, the chair of this year's Asean Standing Committee.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Army chief Prayuth Chanocha said they did not want the military-run General Border Committee (GBC) to meet in a third country. The meeting should be held either in Cambodia or Thailand, they said.

One wondered what the big deal was, considering the fact that Thailand's military bigwigs love to travel. It wasn't that long ago that Thai troops went to East Timor to take part in a multinational peace-keeping operation. Oh, they sure milked that one. Even until today, Thailand's top brass continue to boast about how much the Timorese loved Thai soldiers. Try asking Thai citizens about how they feel about the armed forces, especially the ethnic Malay Muslims in the deep South.

But self-inflated ego runs deep among the Thai top brass even in the midst of a bilateral conflict that is pretty much beyond their control.

No logical reason was given as to why they didn't want to go to Indonesia. It was just that they didn't like the idea of having it in Indonesia. The top brass didn't mind Indonesia observing the bilateral meeting as long as it took place in Thailand or Cambodia.

For the record, the idea of permitting Indonesia to mediate in this dispute with Cambodia was agreed upon by an elected government of Thailand. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya made the deal on behalf of the government. It was also agreed that Indonesia would facilitate this bilateral meeting in Indonesia. The plan was made in front of Asean members.

Perhaps Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva should find the courage in himself to set his foot down and fire some of these top brass. He knows that in most democratic societies and governments, such behaviour would easily result in the dismissal of the top brass. Perhaps we still have a long way to go if our civilian leaders continue to let the military have their way.

The military has no right or any invitation to stick their necks into areas where they don't belong. Instead of their egos, they should try to think about Thailand's national interest and its credibility and international standing.

Perhaps Kasit could have done a better job in terms of clearing the air with the military before entering into such an agreement with Indonesia and Cambodia.

But this is not an excuse to huff and puff because some military top brass don't want to go to Indonesia.

By behaving childishly, the military is holding Thailand back from initiatives to resolve the border dispute. Essentially, this leaves the Cambodians with the moral high ground.

Whether we like it or not, the boundary dispute with Cambodia has already been internationalised. The UN Security Council and Asean have had their say on the matter and the ball appeared to be rolling, until the Thai military throw a tantrum. Are they the only ones that love this country or it is the outdated attitude that basically makes their worlds final? Old habits die hard, it seems.

For too long the country has been on the defensive side with no strategic plan as Cambodia milked the situation and called Thailand the big bad wolf for dragging its feet. Now is the time to move on and move closer to a peace deal. This is no time for foot-dragging. If the top brass can't stand the heat or keep up with the pace, they should just go into retirement.

-- The Nation 2011-03-27

[wintermute]

It's interesting that Thailand's military feels it's the top dog when I don't think Thailand has ever won a single modern war. I think even Laos rolled them pretty good in their border conflicts.

[animatic]

It's interesting that Thailand's military feels it's the top dog when I don't think Thailand has ever won a single modern war. I think even Laos rolled them pretty good in their border conflicts.

Not surprising, since the school system has beat it into their heads that; All Thais Are Top Dog versus all their neighbors.

Add that basis of life to a military training and getting to the top in the military, and this attitude doesn't surprise at all.

Edited March 27, 2011 by animatic

[wintermute]

Not surprising, since the school system has beat it into their heads that; All Thais Are Top Dog versus all their neighbors.

Add that basis of life to a military training and getting to the top in the military, and this attitude doesn't surprise at all.

True, but the inconsistency in the reality and the world view is astounding to behold at times. I admit I am morbidly curious as to what would happen if Thailand/Cambodia really got into it with a full scale conflict. Or better yet Thailand/Vietnam..that one would be a snoozer because I think the Viets would take the whole country over in less than a month.

It's the same thing every time..the thai military brass makes a few token attacks with grunts and their third world artillery and then backs off right away when it starts getting too hot. Then they go back to their mansions and claim victory by wire.

The whole thing is so..French.

[Lancelot]

It's interesting that Thailand's military feels it's the top dog when I don't think Thailand has ever won a single modern war. I think even Laos rolled them pretty good in their border conflicts.

Umm, they did mange to retake some territory once

The Franco-Thai War (Thai: กรณีพิพาทอินโดจีน French: Guerre franco-thaïlandaise) (1940–1941) was fought between Thailand and Vichy France over certain areas of French Indochina that had once belonged to Thailand.

While nationalistic demonstrations and anti-French rallies were held in Bangkok, border skirmishes erupted along the Mekong frontier. The superior Royal Thai Air Force conducted daytime bombing runs over Vientiane, Sisophon, and Battambang with impunity. The French retaliated with their own planes, but the damage caused was less than equal. The activities of the Thai air force, particularly in the field of dive-bombing,[11] was such that Admiral Jean Decoux, the governor of French Indochina, grudgingly remarked that the Thai planes seemed to have been flown by men with plenty of war experience.

The resolution of the conflict was received with wide acclaim among the Thai people and was looked upon as a personal triumph for Phibun. For the first time, Thailand had been able to extract concessions from a European power, albeit a weakened one. For the French in Indochina, the conflict was a bitter reminder of their isolation following the Fall of France. In the French view, an ambitious neighbour had taken advantage of a distant colony cut off from her weakened parent. Without hope of reinforcements, the French had little chance of offering a sustained resistance. But in the Thai view, the French had unfairly taken those areas which used to be parts of Siam (Thailand). And then the French-Thai War was a reasonable effect.

However, the real beneficiaries of the conflict between Thailand and the Vichy French colony were the Japanese. They were able to expand their influence in both Thailand and Indochina. The Japanese won from Phibun a secret verbal promise to support them in an attack on British Malaya and British Burma

In any case:

The Victory Monument, located in the district of Ratchathewi on a traffic island at one of Bangkok's busiest intersections, was built in 1941 to commemorate the conflict.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French-Thai_War

[Colabamumbai]

The military Is "Thai Politics". An excellently written article and very true, the military should have no say in a democracy, but we are still waiting for "Democracy" to happen in Thailand.

[vont]

Most of us do recognize that regardless of who or which political party is running the Thai govt budgets,

corruption from the highest is rampantly shameful and shameless.

Even with the new election coming and taking place as one is to assume....

Corruption is perceived to continue as usual.

Now how to prevent and/or eradicate this corruption problem?

Many camps are now proposing--let the military takes over again.

Only this time, before returning power to govern to the general public,

let the military cleans up the political arena, meaning:

ransacking all those PMs, MPs, House representatives, Senators et al....;

prosecuting those crooks according to the current laws;

imprisoning those who are found guilty by the court of law;

confiscating their liquid and hard assets to state treasury;

organizing new govt according to public mandates at the time, and;

banning for life current govt officials convicted by court;

not necessarily in that particular order as I presented. :jap:

Maybe I should start a new thread somewhere to feel members' multiplicities input?

Cheers everyone, wishing you every success and happiness while in wonderfully amazing Thailand. :jap:

Edited March 27, 2011 by vont

[asiawatcher]

Thailand has performed better under military and royal rule than under politicians! That is a fact. Check the records.

"... For too long the country has put up with military interference in national politics. We come out in full force when they cross certain line, such as staging a coup d'etat, but we often overlook smaller incidents that are also important."

I for one, vote for the generals, and get rid of this stupid political system. Riots, deaths, inconvenience to citizens and an ineffectual corrupt Police force incapable of investigating crime be it blue or white collar. Never was there a better time to vote for the Generals! And in the last Coup, no deaths - can't say that about clearing the streets at the behest of the politicians.

[licentiapoetica]

Thailand has performed better under military and royal rule than under politicians! That is a fact. Check the records.

"... For too long the country has put up with military interference in national politics. We come out in full force when they cross certain line, such as staging a coup d'etat, but we often overlook smaller incidents that are also important."

I for one, vote for the generals, and get rid of this stupid political system. Riots, deaths, inconvenience to citizens and an ineffectual corrupt Police force incapable of investigating crime be it blue or white collar. Never was there a better time to vote for the Generals! And in the last Coup, no deaths - can't say that about clearing the streets at the behest of the politicians.

If you want to vote for the Generals then just vote for the Democratic Party. They have become the party of the military.

[ib1b4]

Thailand has performed better under military and royal rule than under politicians! That is a fact. Check the records.

"... For too long the country has put up with military interference in national politics. We come out in full force when they cross certain line, such as staging a coup d'etat, but we often overlook smaller incidents that are also important."

I for one, vote for the generals, and get rid of this stupid political system. Riots, deaths, inconvenience to citizens and an ineffectual corrupt Police force incapable of investigating crime be it blue or white collar. Never was there a better time to vote for the Generals! And in the last Coup, no deaths - can't say that about clearing the streets at the behest of the politicians.

If you want to vote for the Generals then just vote for the Democratic Party. They have become the party of the military.

Sorry but in my opinion you are being somewat harsh, the dems do want to create a better Thailand but as you suggest the military does have to much to say and the Dems are hamstrung for that reason.