Wanting To Please Others Versus The National Interest: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Wanting to please others versus the national interest

The Nation

Thailand needs to think carefully about its place in the world security apparatus based upon its realistic capabilities and threat perception

It took some time for Thailand to come around to joining the US-sponsored Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a mechanism designed to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). But it was at the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia, that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra finally gave in to the US request, saying that the long-standing concerns about possibly antagonising cargo ships, and the lawsuits that could follow should Thai naval crews step out of line when searching foreign vessels, have to give way to bigger security concerns.

US President Barack Obama told Yingluck he was confident in her government and fully supported Thailand as the country has returned to full democracy.

The logic employed by the two leaders sounded nice and soothing - democracy equates to greater international responsibility, and global security concerns outweigh national interests.

Launched by George W Bush's administration in 2003, the PSI is now endorsed by 98 nations, although some Asian countries such as India, China, Indonesia and Malaysia have expressed opposition. Thailand previously took the position it did out of concern that Beijing would not be pleased.

But this government's sudden concern for global security begs the question: Why this abrupt change of heart? In principle, it may have been the right thing to do. But the real question is, for what reason?

To shed some light on this, one needs to revisit the recent past and examine how the Thai authorities deal with extremely sensitive issues.

In early 1998, Thai authorities captured tonnes of North Korea-bound ephedrine, a substance that can be used to make methamphetamine. After boasting of great success, the authorities quietly returned the shipment to the North Koreans after their people threatened to carry out terrorist attacks on Thai soil.

In mid-2000, members of the Tamil Tigers were building "suicide submarines" in Phuket while Thai security officials stood by because we didn't want to pick a fight with them. The Tigers' operation came to an end after the issue was exposed and the site was visited by Sri Lankan diplomats.

Afraid that tourist dollars would take a nosedive in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, Thailand took a very selfish approach by declaring that there were no terrorist cells in the country. It was as if the Kingdom was geographically detached from Southeast Asia, where Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore were busy hunting down members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a group that is affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Moreover, just hours before the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra met the then US President George W Bush in June 2003, Bangkok announced the arrest of three JI suspects, apparently to impress the American leaders. The Thai court eventually acquitted the three men, who were said to have been beaten senseless.

Shortly after meeting Bush, Thailand found itself part of the coalition in the US-led global war on terrorism, and landed itself in Iraq and then Afghanistan. Thaksin came under public criticism for not consulting Parliament about the decision.

When it comes to matters of national or international security, Thailand doesn't seem to have a proper standard operating procedure. There is little or no analysis of the merits of various initiatives such as sending troops to wars started by somebody else, or endorsing mechanisms such as the PSI.

But this is not to say that every initiative and sensitive project pertaining to national security should be debated openly. This is not like the Cold War, when threat perception was clearly defined.

But at the least, with regards to today's threat perception, a government needs to explain to the public about what the country is up against, security wise, be it in the national or international context.

Thaksin swung to the Americans in June 2003 at a time when he couldn't get much more from the Chinese, who he had hoped to ride along with to obtain international stardom. But he didn't seem to understand that his mood swings undermined Thailand as a serious player. Who would take Thailand seriously if Bangkok could swing from pillar to pillar like the great apes of Africa.

Yingluck needs to learn from her brother's past about what to avoid. Thailand's national and security interests must be carried out in the spirit of bi-partisanship and in line with the country's long-term security outlook, policy and threat perception, as well as its military strategy and capability. It cannot be part of a single person's quirky ambition or part of a desire to obtain moral support from a superpower at a time when one's image is sagging at home.

-- The Nation 2011-11-22

[Thaddeus]

To shed some light on this, one needs to revisit the recent past and examine how the Thai authorities deal with extremely sensitive issues.

In early 1998, Thai authorities captured tonnes of North Korea-bound ephedrine, a substance that can be used to make methamphetamine. After boasting of great success, the authorities quietly returned the shipment to the North Koreans after their people threatened to carry out terrorist attacks on Thai soil.

In mid-2000, members of the Tamil Tigers were building "suicide submarines" in Phuket while Thai security officials stood by because we didn't want to pick a fight with them. The Tigers' operation came to an end after the issue was exposed and the site was visited by Sri Lankan diplomats.

Afraid that tourist dollars would take a nosedive in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, Thailand took a very selfish approach by declaring that there were no terrorist cells in the country. It was as if the Kingdom was geographically detached from Southeast Asia, where Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore were busy hunting down members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a group that is affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Moreover, just hours before the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra met the then US President George W Bush in June 2003, Bangkok announced the arrest of three JI suspects, apparently to impress the American leaders. The Thai court eventually acquitted the three men, who were said to have been beaten senseless.

Shortly after meeting Bush, Thailand found itself part of the coalition in the US-led global war on terrorism, and landed itself in Iraq and then Afghanistan. Thaksin came under public criticism for not consulting Parliament about the decision.

Basically, good at in-fighting but back off swiftly if the bully is bigger than they are.

[noitom]

To shed some light on this, one needs to revisit the recent past and examine how the Thai authorities deal with extremely sensitive issues.

In early 1998, Thai authorities captured tonnes of North Korea-bound ephedrine, a substance that can be used to make methamphetamine. After boasting of great success, the authorities quietly returned the shipment to the North Koreans after their people threatened to carry out terrorist attacks on Thai soil.

In mid-2000, members of the Tamil Tigers were building "suicide submarines" in Phuket while Thai security officials stood by because we didn't want to pick a fight with them. The Tigers' operation came to an end after the issue was exposed and the site was visited by Sri Lankan diplomats.

Afraid that tourist dollars would take a nosedive in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, Thailand took a very selfish approach by declaring that there were no terrorist cells in the country. It was as if the Kingdom was geographically detached from Southeast Asia, where Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore were busy hunting down members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a group that is affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Moreover, just hours before the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra met the then US President George W Bush in June 2003, Bangkok announced the arrest of three JI suspects, apparently to impress the American leaders. The Thai court eventually acquitted the three men, who were said to have been beaten senseless.

Shortly after meeting Bush, Thailand found itself part of the coalition in the US-led global war on terrorism, and landed itself in Iraq and then Afghanistan. Thaksin came under public criticism for not consulting Parliament about the decision.

Basically, good at in-fighting but back off swiftly if the bully is bigger than they are.

Also notorious at double crossing and swinging over to the enemy. Very unreliable global security partner. Look at THailand's inability to safeguard and secure its own Airport in 2008. Their comment about not wanting to "raise concerns" about terrorist activity existing in Thailand so as not to compromise tourist activity in 2001 after 9/11 is contemptible. The south of Thailand is a case that magnifies Thailand's failure at managing security related activity. The scale of known corruption in Thailand makes it virtually impossible to rely on any security commitments that Thailand makes.

[Thaddeus]

To shed some light on this, one needs to revisit the recent past and examine how the Thai authorities deal with extremely sensitive issues.

In early 1998, Thai authorities captured tonnes of North Korea-bound ephedrine, a substance that can be used to make methamphetamine. After boasting of great success, the authorities quietly returned the shipment to the North Koreans after their people threatened to carry out terrorist attacks on Thai soil.

In mid-2000, members of the Tamil Tigers were building "suicide submarines" in Phuket while Thai security officials stood by because we didn't want to pick a fight with them. The Tigers' operation came to an end after the issue was exposed and the site was visited by Sri Lankan diplomats.

Afraid that tourist dollars would take a nosedive in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, Thailand took a very selfish approach by declaring that there were no terrorist cells in the country. It was as if the Kingdom was geographically detached from Southeast Asia, where Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore were busy hunting down members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a group that is affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Moreover, just hours before the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra met the then US President George W Bush in June 2003, Bangkok announced the arrest of three JI suspects, apparently to impress the American leaders. The Thai court eventually acquitted the three men, who were said to have been beaten senseless.

Shortly after meeting Bush, Thailand found itself part of the coalition in the US-led global war on terrorism, and landed itself in Iraq and then Afghanistan. Thaksin came under public criticism for not consulting Parliament about the decision.

Basically, good at in-fighting but back off swiftly if the bully is bigger than they are.

Also notorious at double crossing and swinging over to the enemy. Very unreliable global security partner. Look at THailand's inability to safeguard and secure its own Airport in 2008. Their comment about not wanting to "raise concerns" about terrorist activity existing in Thailand so as not to compromise tourist activity in 2001 after 9/11 is contemptible. The south of Thailand is a case that magnifies Thailand's failure at managing security related activity. The scale of known corruption in Thailand makes it virtually impossible to rely on any security commitments that Thailand makes.

Personally, I think it goes way deeper than that, Thailand is very good at being the face of Asia when it's all ticking along nicely, when it turns sour they buddy-up with who they think the winner will be, and start sticking little pins in the others, only little pins, limited damage and easily recoverable from.

Someone mentioned the play Othello a couple of days ago, I think it was DocN, I liken Thailand to Iago, right there when things are Ok, but all the time whispering "Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe"