Cambodia's Diplomatic Shenanigans

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EDITORIAL

Cambodia's diplomatic shenanigans

By The Nation

'Thuggish' display at summit a threat to Asean solidarity, and year ahead

When Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong attacked Thailand at the Jakarta summit as an aggressor, it was with a heavy dose of malicious intent. Their poor manners surprised Asean colleagues at all levels. During the ministerial meeting on Friday, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had to cut the former Khmer Rouge leader off before the Thai-Cambodian conflict split any further. It represented the lowest point of Asean diplomacy, which has prided itself on discreet and effective dealings.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded to Hun Sen's allegation in a calm and assured manner. He categorically stated that Thailand had no intention whatsoever of engaging in any conflict with neighbours and countries in the region. In the case of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's rebuttal, he was right in responding to Cambodian vitriol, stating that the conflict had been raised and briefed by the chair as part of the progress report. The matter should be dealt with bilaterally, as has always been the case. He emphasised that the more important issues of Asean community building should be the topic of the day. That objective reminded Asean ministers of the ultimate objective of Asean - which was set up 1967 - to put all Southeast Asian countries under one roof. Can Asean allow such a thuggish attitude to prevail and destroy the group's solidarity and spirit of cooperation? This is essentially the first time a foreign minister had such bad taste to go all out at a plenary session.

Thailand and Cambodia are currently working hard, despite a lack of quick success, on various confidence-building measures to end the border dispute. Somehow, it seems Cambodia enjoys the game of brinkmanship at the expense of Thailand under Prime Minister Abhisit, who is trying to set things in order at home. He is calling for a new election in July after the dissolution of the House of Representative next week. Indeed, Cambodia knows how to score and hurt Thailand.

Lest we forget, this was the same bullying tactic that Cambodia used in 2008 at Singapore when Thailand was struggling with its own domestic problems. Phnom Penh tried to internationalise the conflict over the Hindu temple at Preah Vihear, and brought the issue to the UN Security Council as well as Asean. At the time, Cambodia's appeal was sent right back by the UNSC. It was during the second flare-up of border conflict in February this year that the matter was pushed forward to the Security Council again. Rightly, the issue was given to Asean to deal with as an intra-regional conflict. As the chair, Indonesia has done a great deal in bridging perception and procedural gaps between the two protagonists.

It remains to be seen how this will play out in the future as Cambodia has also referred the matter to the World Court for reinterpretation of the decision made in 1962 which stated that the temple belonged to Cambodia. It did not rule on the exact boundary between both countries, however. In response, Thailand also established its own legal experts to fight the case, which is expected to cause further tension between the two neighbours. As long as the conflict remains unresolved, the future Asean chair, Cambodia, will next year be at jeopardy if it seeks to drag Asean further and deeper into a quagmire of bilateral politics.

-- The Nation 2011-05-09

[geovalin]

Very strange Thai attitude. Well, it's the usual "arsonist fireman".

If you want to avoid to be insulted, just respect the border you agreed with more than 100 years ago and do not position thousands of soldiers in sensitive areas.

[tragickingdom]

The real thugs are the people intruding on Cambodian soil, the people using cluster ammunition against a sovereign nation and the people wiping their butts with International Court Rulings. The real thugs can be found in elitist circles who create a conflict so they think they can turn back the clock on the poor who became politically conscious and are beating the elite election after election. the thugs are the Thai courts floowing the orders of the Mubarak's of Thailand by annulling the voices of the people. Just allow international observers in if you have nothing to hide.

[Mea]

What a nice article, not at all one way. So does the write represent the Nation's view on the situation or is the writer hird by the current Thai government??

[mca]

I suppose the articles indignation on poor manners would have some validity were it not for the fact that the current Thai FM once called the PM of Cambodia a " gangster "

[Siripon]

I suppose the articles indignation on poor manners would have some validity were it not for the fact that the current Thai FM once called the PM of Cambodia a " gangster "

A correct judgement by Kasit which becomes plainer and clearer by the day.

Unprovoked attacks by Cambodian military over the last month, claims they couldn't control their own soldiers, local Cambodians on the border issued with rifles by the Cambodian authorities and the forced transportation of women and children to the border area are all actions of a thug.

You can take Hun Sen out of the jungle but you can't take the jungle out of him.

[Joel Barlow]

Although Thailand is clearly much less than blameless in this matter,

it does seem to be mostly about Hun Manet and his father,

one of the longest serving prime ministers in the world.

ASEAN is a farce, but I truly enjoyed the talk of a Euro-type

currency here!

[mca]

I suppose the articles indignation on poor manners would have some validity were it not for the fact that the current Thai FM once called the PM of Cambodia a " gangster "

A correct judgement by Kasit which becomes plainer and clearer by the day.

Unprovoked attacks by Cambodian military over the last month, claims they couldn't control their own soldiers, local Cambodians on the border issued with rifles by the Cambodian authorities and the forced transportation of women and children to the border area are all actions of a thug.

You can take Hun Sen out of the jungle but you can't take the jungle out of him.

Which may be true but unfortunately has nothing to with poor manners.

[Hachi]

Shenanigans..what a great word.

Super Trooper shenanigans:

Shenaginans..

[Thai at Heart]

It represented the lowest point of Asean diplomacy, which has prided itself on discreet and effective dealings.

Is this guy talking about the Association of South East Asian Nations, or some other Asean that we haven't ever heard of, with its ability to broker effective negotiations between its members?

When I type "Effective Asean Negotiations" into google, I actually get a training course from the Mekong Institute as the top response.

http://www.mekonginstitute.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=71&Itemid=85&year=2011&month=09&day=05&uid=cd6f12fca237fe4488f0366489ad0045

Maybe the delegates could do with attending.

[asiawatcher]

Cambodia's representatives are simply street gangs, nothing more. At least the present PM has the education not to stoop to their level in verbal jousting. As my old man said, never argue with a fool - he will take you down to his level and most likely win - its his set of rules.

[vinceentz]

Thailand and Cambodia are currently working hard, despite a lack of quick success, on various confidence-building measures to end the border dispute. Somehow, it seems Cambodia enjoys the game of brinkmanship at the expense of Thailand under Prime Minister Abhisit, who is trying to set things in order at home. He is calling for a new election in July after the dissolution of the House of Representative next week. Indeed, Cambodia knows how to score and hurt Thailand.

Really?! I thought the whole stirring up the borderdispute was a simple trick pulled by desperate thais in a desperate (and unfortunately succesfull) attempt at nationalize the population before an election.

I guess that would be too obvious.

[whybother]

Thailand and Cambodia are currently working hard, despite a lack of quick success, on various confidence-building measures to end the border dispute. Somehow, it seems Cambodia enjoys the game of brinkmanship at the expense of Thailand under Prime Minister Abhisit, who is trying to set things in order at home. He is calling for a new election in July after the dissolution of the House of Representative next week. Indeed, Cambodia knows how to score and hurt Thailand.

Really?! I thought the whole stirring up the borderdispute was a simple trick pulled by desperate thais in a desperate (and unfortunately succesfull) attempt at nationalize the population before an election.

I guess that would be too obvious.

Successful?

[Siripon]

Thailand and Cambodia are currently working hard, despite a lack of quick success, on various confidence-building measures to end the border dispute. Somehow, it seems Cambodia enjoys the game of brinkmanship at the expense of Thailand under Prime Minister Abhisit, who is trying to set things in order at home. He is calling for a new election in July after the dissolution of the House of Representative next week. Indeed, Cambodia knows how to score and hurt Thailand.

Really?! I thought the whole stirring up the borderdispute was a simple trick pulled by desperate thais in a desperate (and unfortunately succesfull) attempt at nationalize the population before an election.

I guess that would be too obvious.

More likely to be Thaksin, just the other day he said, when he comes back as PM,(presumably several lifetimes ahead as he has a lot of bad karma to be paid for first), 'Relations with neighbouring countries will improve as I am able to get on with their leaders unlike the present government'.

Mr Veera must be praying for a Pheua Thai victory in his Phnom Penh cell!

[Hardie]

Thai nationalist BS, proving nothing but that yellows are as stupid as reds. This issue was settled 50 years ago, only dredged up whenever some party needs a few extra votes or the ruling party wants to divert attention away from domestic issues.