Thai Diplomacy: Where Personal, National Affairs Can't Mix; Opinion

[webfact]

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Thai diplomacy: Where personal, national affairs can't mix

By Kavi Chongkittavorn

Once again personal and national agenda clashes head-on once Surapong Tohwichachaikul, MP from Chiangmai, was named foreign minister last week.

Focus has been zeroed in on his perceived role whether he will speak on behalf of the country or Thaksin Shinawatra. Lots of questions were also raised due to his close relations to the former prime minister, who was sentenced to two-year jail term on conflict of interests. Lingering doubts over the minister's intention would have dire consequences for Thailand's external relations and its place in the world.

Unfortunately, Surapong's comments in the past few days have not provided any room for comfort. It fingers only one direction--bringing Thaksin back and restoring his diplomatic access and privileges world-wide. Although the new government is still working on the policy's statement, this agenda has clandestinely become a new priority underlining the country's overall diplomatic efforts.

The new foreign minister has already made a public appeal for a chance to work and prove himself. Surapong, a former member of Democrat Party, did not make clear either the time-frame or the kind of proof he desire. However, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has already given a six-month time-frame for the performance of all Cabinet members. That is a long time in a fast changing world.

Both Yingluck and Surapong must come clean over Thaksin's repatriation. In the previous government, followed the court's ruling, all diplomatic efforts were deployed to extradite him and marginalized his movement and political maneuvers abroad. For instance, it took months before his red and ordinary passports were annulled and his traveling plans restricted. Thaksin overcame this barrier by adopting a new citizenship to circumvent visa limits, so he could fly around the world in a private jet.

Without distinction of personal and national agenda over Thaksin's status, the outlook of Thai diplomacy could be extremely messy affairs from now on. As Surapong is not a career diplomat, he is likely to focus on political and personal factors. The visa's controversy last week over Thaksin's entry to Japan was a good example. Was he speaking to Japanese Ambassador Seiji Kojima with Thaksin or Thailand in mind? Sooner than later, we will find out. Otherwise, he must be extremely cautious in making decisions. In any future u-turn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be on the receiving end. That helps explain the low level of moral among the ministry's senior officials, who are used to work on their own.

For the past decade, Thai diplomacy has been moving back and forth like a weathervane reflecting the country's domestic conditions. Friends and foes of Thailand have similar dilemma figuring out its real politics and diplomacy. In the past two and half years, although much progress has been made to savage the country's polarized politics and strengthen economic cooperation and friendship around the world, the public attention — at home and overseas — has been focused on local troubles with bearings on democracy, human rights and national sovereignty.

In the foreseeable future, these overall diplomatic landscapes will remain unchanged. The highlight will continue to be on the current Thai-Cambodian conflict. So far, the Cambodian leaders have responded well to the new government and appeared friendlier, improving bilateral atmosphere markedly. But two caveats are in order. First, there could be some spectacle improvements between the two countries any time now. But it remains to be seen if it would positively impact on the border troubles. Any durable solution to border and national sovereignty issue would take time and huge political will to overcome.

Therefore, it is imperative for Surapong to heed the advices worked out the Foreign Ministry officials on these sensitive areas. Otherwise, it would cause confusions within the ministry and international communities. Once, he reports to work on 17 August, he promised to carefully study the files prepared by the ministry. Beyond the briefs, as Surapong is one of the high-value choices for Thaksin, he has even more reasons to manifest he can put national interests ahead of personal ones.

Second, it is Thaksin's management style and habit of employing professional groups outside the establishment — that could be a blessing as well as a curse. They can think outside the box and contemplate on new policies and diplomatic opportunities. This approach works well during the election and political campaigns. However, it could cause complications in the long haul. For instance, during the Thaksin government, numerous (unfulfilled) commitments were made in exchange of the UN members' support of Thailand's bid for the UN top job in 2006, which was won by former foreign minister Ban Ki-moon of Korea.

It would be wise for Thaksin and Surapong to set aside their joint personal agenda. They should learn from their experience when personal and national agenda became mash-up as seen during the Thaksin government 2001-2006, it could have disastrous outcomes. It is better for them to focus on strengthening the country's roles in Asean and facilitate the presence of Indonesian Observers Team and do what are necessary to achieve peace and stability in the region. Now, it is the time for them to demonstrate to the public that they have the national interest at heart.

-- The Nation 2011-08-15

[REM]

Conflict of interest is something that does not exist in Thailand. I love reading some of these, because they make good sense, but at the same time I hate it, cause they're written in English, and I doubt there is any way that an average Thai could grasp these ideas. Maybe in another 100 years.....

[moe666]

Thakisin set aside his personal agenda for the country, not in a 100years

[KhunBJ]

Not even Newsweek on a bad day would have written such a cook up of rubbish ... there is no news .. no sources ... no facts ..just hearsay and homemade rumors ... they have been making several stories now made on the same components ... just need to quote themselves to get legitimacy .. get out of the office and explore the world...send your journalists (if you have such people employed) to the deep south to investigate what is going on down there ... about time some reporting done from there..

[OzMick]

There is no conflict of interest - Thailand's interests aren't even considered.

[sfbandung]

There is no conflict of interest - Thailand's interests aren't even considered.

Ha ha.

This Surapong bloke seems more in Thaksin's pocket than Yingluck.

[webfact]

Foreign Minister Undaunted by Poor Poll Result

The new foreign minister says he is not discouraged by a 52-percent disapproval rating in a recent public poll.

He is choosing to view it as the motivation for him to prove himself.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul said he is not discouraged by a recent survey which found that 52 percent of the respondents disapprove of his appointment.

Surapong said he is using the poll result as motivation to prove himself to the public.

Regarding criticism about his lack of diplomatic experience, Surapong said he is consulting with former foreign ministers Noppadon Pattama and Surakiat Sathienthai, particularly regarding international trade promotion.

He added that he has yet to decide who will assist him in overseeing international trade promotion.

The minister denied having received reports that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra hopes the new government will be able to collect at least one trillion baht in revenue during its first term in office.

He said the government has not set a revenue target, but intends to adopt more proactive trading strategies and pursue the same trade diplomacy that had been used during Thaksin's administration.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-15

[OzMick]

There is no conflict of interest - Thailand's interests aren't even considered.

Ha ha.

This Surapong bloke seems more in Thaksin's pocket than Yingluck.

"The master will come, and he has promised to make me immortal!" Renfield in Dracula (1992)

[sfbandung]

There is no conflict of interest - Thailand's interests aren't even considered.

Ha ha.

This Surapong bloke seems more in Thaksin's pocket than Yingluck.

"The master will come, and he has promised to make me immortal!" Renfield in Dracula (1992)

Funny again!

Is it just the translation? But he comes across as almost child like in the comments he makes.Surapong I mean.

Edited August 15, 2011 by sfbandung

[scorecard]

There is no conflict of interest - Thailand's interests aren't even considered.

Ha ha.

This Surapong bloke seems more in Thaksin's pocket than Yingluck.

"The master will come, and he has promised to make me immortal!" Renfield in Dracula (1992)

And don't forget 'everybody will be rich within six months'.

Funny again!

Is it just the translation? But he comes across as almost child like in the comments he makes.Surapong I mean.

Surapong shows his capabilities in one stroke.

He knew vey well that his appointment would be controversial and he knew well that he would need to be very careful in what he says to avoid attracting negative comments and avoid suggestions that he is a lapdog for the paymaster. He's in a job where clever communications strategies are one of the serious capabilities needed for the position.

What did he do - put his foot in it in a big way in a highly controversial scenario before he's even got his feet under the desk.

Guess he just can't help himself, his focus is single - the paymaster.

Edited August 15, 2011 by scorecard

[wackysleet]

There is no conflict of interest - Thailand's interests aren't even considered.

Never have been by any party.

[scorecard]

There is no conflict of interest - Thailand's interests aren't even considered.

Ha ha.

This Surapong bloke seems more in Thaksin's pocket than Yingluck.

Yes, nice example of big brother ignoring his clone.

Would be interesting to get her honest response to being sidelined on this never happen of course).