Thai Military Should Not Be Allowed To Interfere In Foreign Policy

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Military should not be allowed to interfere in foreign policy

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

The latest statement from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in relation to posting Indonesian observers at the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple clearly reflects that it is the military, not the government, that controls Thailand's foreign policy toward Cambodia.

On his weekly talk show, Abhisit said his government had taken the same stance as the military - to not allow Indonesian observers to be |stationed on the 4.6 square kilometres area near the temple, which |Thailand believes comes under its |sovereignty.

Nobody should have a problem if the area in question really belongs to Thailand. If the area is truly under |Thai sovereignty, then it has the right to decide who does or does not enter it. In reality though, this piece of |land is being clamed by both |Thailand and Cambodia, and it |sits at the core of the conflict |between both neighbours.

The Thai military just raised the issue as a tactic to defer the observation. If the observers are kept out of the disputed area, they will have no knowledge of what really happens. This would make the Indonesia-proposed peace plan meaningless and allow the military to scrap it.

The government was wrong in believing that it has full mandate on the foreign policy involving Cambodia when it authorised the Foreign Ministry to make a deal with Indonesia and Cambodia in February, during which it was decided that observers would be stationed at Preah Vihear to monitor a permanent ceasefire.

Indonesia, as chair of Asean, has to lend a hand in resolving the conflict because Phnom Penh took the February border skirmish to the United Nations Security Council. The Security Council then asked Asean to implement a permanent ceasefire.

Initially, having unarmed Indonesian observers monitoring the border situation sounded fine. Many government officials even claimed |that this was a diplomatic victory to prevent aggressive acts from the |other side.

However, this sweet victory turned into a bitter pill a week later when the military disagreed with the idea of stationing observers, saying involving a third party was unnecessary.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who represents the military rather than the government, previously tried to use diplomatic means to defer the deal saying he needed to discuss the terms of reference (TOR) with his Cambodian counterpart in the General Border Commission (GBC). However, when Indonesia called a meeting of the GBC and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) in Bogor last week, the Thai military, in a |very undiplomatic response, simply refused to go.

The government pretended to honour the deal that it had already agreed upon and tried to explain that Thailand needed more time to study and negotiate the TOR, when in reality it already had more than a month to read and study the proposal.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya should have been the one taking care of negotiations with Indonesia and the TOR on observers. Dealing with other countries is his job, not that of the military. As the foreign minister of an elected government, Kasit has the authority to make deals with other countries and honour them.

The Army should only be consulted on technical matters, such as the terrain in the area and whether it is safe from landmines. If the case of foreign observers is a policy matter, then it's the government's call to make the decision.

-- The Nation 2011-04-13

[asiawatcher]

The question still remains, who controls the army and thus their involvement in the situation.

[geriatrickid]

The question still remains, who controls the army and thus their involvement in the situation.

Careful. You will breach a taboo subject.

[anterian]

The question still remains, who controls the army and thus their involvement in the situation.

Careful. You will breach a taboo subject.

That's about 80% of most topics, stay with sex that's a safer topic.

[pisico]

"Military should not be allowed to interfere in foreign policy"

This headline rings true in a democratic country.

I would add one more item to it: "or determine".

Dear Supalak, I hope this headline does not result in a knock on your door at 3 AM.

[SteeleJoe]

File this headline under:

"Things That Should Be Glaringly Obvious".

Or

"One of A Dozen Things The Military Obviously Should Not Do Be 'Allowed' to Do But Who's Going To Stop Them?".

[How many different sentences could we form that begin "The military should not..."? (But what use is it talking about "should"?)]

[SICHONSTEVE]

The question still remains, who controls the army and thus their involvement in the situation.

Careful. You will breach a taboo subject.

Am I the only one or is this a totally baffling mess that needs a computer to work out what's what and put in place some logical and sensible policy as nobody seems to have a clue whats going on and who is actually in charge of anything and everything!!! If my remit was to define the word MESS I would simply say 'Thai politics' as this sums up this particular word perfectly!!!

Edited April 13, 2011 by SICHONSTEVE

[SteeleJoe]

The question still remains, who controls the army and thus their involvement in the situation.

Careful. You will breach a taboo subject.

Am I the only one or is this a totally baffling mess that needs a computer to work out what's what and put in place some logical and sensible policy as nobody seems to have a clue whats going on and who is actually in charge of anything and everything!!! If my remit was to define the word MESS I would simply say 'Thai politics' as this sums up this particular word perfectly!!!

I reckon it's not as mysterious or as hard to work out as you think. But it is complicated.

[dumball]

It should be obvious there is some one in charge in Cambodia , no one seems to know who is the boss in Thailand , Ahbasit is the elected PM but it appears he has no true authority in many matters , how can the country ever make any meaningful advancement into the real world of today when they are so deeply entrenched in history ?

[SICHONSTEVE]

The question still remains, who controls the army and thus their involvement in the situation.

Careful. You will breach a taboo subject.

Am I the only one or is this a totally baffling mess that needs a computer to work out what's what and put in place some logical and sensible policy as nobody seems to have a clue whats going on and who is actually in charge of anything and everything!!! If my remit was to define the word MESS I would simply say 'Thai politics' as this sums up this particular word perfectly!!!

I reckon it's not as mysterious or as hard to work out as you think. But it is complicated.

I agree!!! and that's why I'm in search of other topics whereby I can understand the storyline without putting on my 'brain of britain' expression!!.

[SteeleJoe]

I agree!!! and that's why I'm in search of other topics whereby I can understand the storyline without putting on my 'brain of britain' expression!!.

Here you go.

Justin Bieber's hair Gets A Bodyguard

Teen heartthrob JustinBieber's famous hair is touring the US with its own bodyguard. According to British newspaper the Daily Star,Justin's locks are being showcased to fans from the safety of a glass box...

ACTUAL STORY

Edited April 13, 2011 by SteeleJoe

[brd]

Every one interested in knowing the truth about Thai political situation should read The Nation front page dated 13 April 2011 :

VOTE TO PROTECT MONARCHY: ARMY CHIEF

asks 60 m people to cast ballots; 10 red leaders to be probed for lese majesty

This is a fair report of the truth, all gossips excluded often lying.

[Oberkommando]

Every one interested in knowing the truth about Thai political situation should read The Nation

[SICHONSTEVE]

I agree!!! and that's why I'm in search of other topics whereby I can understand the storyline without putting on my 'brain of britain' expression!!.

Here you go.

Justin Bieber's hair Gets A Bodyguard

Teen heartthrob JustinBieber's famous hair is touring the US with its own bodyguard. According to British newspaper the Daily Star,Justin's locks are being showcased to fans from the safety of a glass box...

ACTUAL STORY

Well maybe not this particular storyline!!!! Another thing - who is Justin Bieber? Is he still attached to this particular mop of hair (I asssume not otherwise the glass box would have to be too big and he would probably have suffocated by the tour ending) and are they seriously worried that somebody might risk life and limb to steal it - bamboozling to say the least but THIS IS in America, so maybe not!!

In my defence, I have attained the ripe(ish) old age of 4 years North of 50 and tend not to see western TV channels featuring teeny bopper pop music in Thailand (or read The Daily Star) for that matter. My excuse anyway!!

[zzaa09]

The question still remains, who controls the army and thus their involvement in the situation.

Careful. You will breach a taboo subject.