Thailand Needs To Reconsider Its Position

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Thailand needs to reconsider its position

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

The latest border skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia at Ta Mouan Thom temple is solid proof that Abhisit Vejjajiva's foreign policy and diplomatic skill towards Cambodia are absolutely wrong and have failed to help bring peace with its neighbour.

Many soldiers and civilians have lost their lives in recent years since Thailand opposed Cambodia's plan to get World Heritage listing for the Preah Vihear temple in 2008.

The latest clash at Ta Mouan and Ta Kwai (known in Cambodia as Ta Krabei), some 150km west of Preah Vihear, is just an extension of the conflict in February, which was caused by Cambodian disappointment at Abhisit's policy.

The issue became complicated and very difficult to resolve as the current Thai government mixed everything up. Thailand and Cambodia's conflict these days are a combination of boundary issues, military arrangements at the border, management of the World Heritage plan, as well as local and international politics.

The root cause of the problem began when Abhisit's government linked the World Heritage management plan with boundary demarcation of areas near to the temple. This government would use all means to block the management plan for Preah Vihear if demarcation of the boundary is not completed.

But even a schoolboy knows that boundary demarcation is time-consuming work and it could be separated from the management of World Heritage property. Legal experts agree that World Heritage listing should not cause Thailand to lose rights of sovereignty over territory adjacent to the temple - if that land really belongs to this country.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also knows that Abhisit wants to use this issue to delay his plan for Preah Vihear.

Abhisit has felt compelled to do this, as he has been pressured by conservative and nationalist groups, which have camped near his office for months now.

A plan to make permanent peace at the border was also deferred because the Thai military hesitated to receive Indonesian observers at the border. The government has stalled on this since it agreed to the proposal in February. No observer from Indonesia has set a foot on the ground since the last clash at Preah Vihear in February.

Perhaps it's too shallow to think that Cambodia attacked Thailand simply because it wants to 'internationalise' the conflict. Would anybody think twice on why Phnom Penh might want to do this? And why Thailand was so scared of a multilateral forum wanting to resolve the problem?

Abhisit insists from time to time that existing bilateral mechanisms should be used to strike a deal with Cambodia over the conflict - as though he never knew that such a method would be ineffective at settling a contemporary dispute.

It sounds very na๏ve to call local commanders on both sides for a ceasefire when everybody knows that only Prime Minister Hun Sen can make such a decision. So the question is why doesn't Abhisit, as head of government, call his Cambodian counterpart to get a ceasefire?

If the government has no diplomatic capacity to convince Cambodian leaders to settle the conflict, the only option is for an acceptable third party. So, if Thailand has nothing to hide, having foreign observers at the border to monitor a cease-fire should not be a worry.

In this context, Asean, which is now chaired by Indonesia, is available and ready to enhance its role in solving the problem for its two member states.

Phnom Penh is also ready to comply with Asean's line, as it called for observers. But the problem has been on our side.

Time is running out and the situation is escalating. Perhaps the original plan to dispatch only 15 Indonesian observers on each side is not enough now. If Thailand wants to limit the size of the problem and find a solution, it needs to adjust its position and make a decision now.

-- The Nation 2011-04-27

[stepenwolf1958]

This is exactly what is needed at this moment. The voice of sense, healthy reasoning and ability to admit fault and mistake, without fear to lose the face.

Critics are more than welcome now.

Realistic critics, even addressed to PM or any one else from this Government.

Progressive moves and new hope for establishing some values of real democracy, nearly future.

Moreover it comes from those whom it most concerned, Thais.

Someone from this ruling team, in near future, has to be prosecuted for this, for to be relict of the past in government and that one who will be prosecuted for bringing the country to the brink of real war will be not Mr. Abhisit.

Time to face the truth and face with irresponsibility, immaturity, incompetency in governing.

[chuang]

One good piece written by The Nation.... :jap:

[Crushdepth]

It's hard to have peace with a country that doesn't give a sh1t how many of its soldiers die. It's not like Hun Sen is going to get 'voted out'. Hun Sen is probably quite happy to destablise the government ahead of the election, especially since it will help his buddy Mr Thaksin crawl back in.

[arrowsdawdle]

Still looks poliical since uncertainty and anxiety in a population tend to keep an incumbent in power and what is happening in 60 days? Oh, an election. TV stations are running lots of caring, protective, humble, status quo, Abhisit propaganda videos. If the situation is intentionally unresolved and even escalated, it is a despicable case of ends justifying the means; means being the lives of 'have not' pawns spilling their blood and for what.

[ib1b4]

Surely it is time for our PM Mr Abhisit to stand and listen to the greater population instead of bowing to infulentual minority and stop the senseless hostilities toward our nieghbour. And yes that applies to the Camboians as well .

[Crushdepth]

I have no faith in the Thai government. I have less than no faith in the Cambodian government. I'm more inclined to believe Thailand in this liar's contest than Cambodia.

[swillowbee]

This is exactly what is needed at this moment. The voice of sense, healthy reasoning and ability to admit fault and mistake, without fear to lose the face.

Critics are more than welcome now.

Realistic critics, even addressed to PM or any one else from this Government.

Progressive moves and new hope for establishing some values of real democracy, nearly future.

Moreover it comes from those whom it most concerned, Thais.

Someone from this ruling team, in near future, has to be prosecuted for this, for to be relict of the past in government and that one who will be prosecuted for bringing the country to the brink of real war will be not Mr. Abhisit.

Time to face the truth and face with irresponsibility, immaturity, incompetency in governing.

.. my, Stepenwolf1958 ... assuming you've been here for more than 5 years, what in God's name would make you believe any decision made in a system orgabnized about Thai cultural values is capable of anything other than "irresponsibility, immaturity, incompetency in governing".

... you think a Thai would actually be prosecuted for this? ... why hell, man, this is a perfectly predictable, text book Thai response ... if you look at Thai cultural values, then you might see that there is no other possible position a Thai can choose ... it is all out if their control ... the Thai must choose this position, regardless of how stunningly stupid they appear in the eyes of the world.

Edited April 27, 2011 by swillowbee