Still No Resolution To The Thai-Saudi Diplomatic Spat: Editorial

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EDITORIAL

Still no resolution to the Thai-Saudi diplomatic spat

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Saudi Arabia's envoy to Thailand is leaving the post disappointed that our domestic political turmoil has overshadowed attempts to restore full relations between our countries

Nabil Ashri has been optimistic and frustrated at the same time. As the head of mission at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia ends his term here after more than six years, the troubled relations between his country and Thailand remain very much in the same condition as when he first arrived. The two nations have been talking more, of course, but they still can't see eye to eye.

Twenty-one years have passed and 17 Thai governments come and gone since criminal cases first rocked diplomatic relations between our countries. It has been a tiresome saga of Saudi hope, Thai nonchalance and then stalled progress in the efforts to re-boost bilateral ties. Nabil, regarded as the friendliest and most positive Saudi envoy to Thailand in modern times, is ending his term here knowing that, if he's been more optimistic than his predecessors, there were good reasons all the same that they were such pessimists.

His six and a half years as head of mission saw hopes rise and then dim. With every new Thai government there was a new foreign minister and a new political crisis, or a variant on one. In 2006 we had the coup that overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2007 and 2008 the yellow shirts rallied. In 2009 and 2010 it was the red shirts' turn. Last year, when the political violence and turmoil eased, we suffered a flood disaster of unprecedented scale hit.

The envoy has been practically chasing shadows in his bid to solve the key issues that are delaying normalisation of bilateral ties. He's undergone emotional swings, albeit in professional fashion. He was quite hopeful with the Abhisit government, but then the red-shirt uprising put all non-domestic matters on hold. There were again glimmers of hope when the Pheu Thai Party won the election last year, but no sooner was it installed in government than the floods arrived on centre stage. That disaster has now been replaced by renewed political tension over proposals for political amnesty and charter amendment.

Still-missing Saudi jewellery and the unsolved murders of Saudi officials and a high-profile businessman have blocked normalisation of diplomatic ties. Nabil had expected significant progress in the criminal investigations, especially over the past three years, but he is leaving Thailand obviously disturbed and disappointed. In one of his last media interviews, the envoy complained that there were times he could not even meet with Thai officials because they were preoccupied by domestic political issues. It was an unpleasant experience for a diplomat who obviously loves Thailand, its people and its food.

Just when Thailand will have a government that can concentrate better on external issues is anyone's guess. The current showdown over charter amendment and the planned amnesty for Thaksin Shinawatra has taken up everyone's time - be it on the government side or among the opposition. Diplomatic issues that have attracted attention are mostly related to the Thai political turmoil - the Cambodian border controversy, foreign lese majeste convictions, Thaksin's visas to other countries, and so on. The Thai-Saudi problem has been left in limbo because it doesn't benefit or hinder any party in the Thai political conflict.

But bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia are in fact very important, both domestically and diplomatically. Saudi Arabia obviously realises this, given the efforts by the departing envoy and other signals such as Saudi investments here. If Thailand also realises the importance of the ties, our governments have not demonstrated it.

Thai workers want to return to Saudi Arabia, and Nabil has said the Middle Eastern country would very much like to have them back. He said Thai workers are regarded there as among the world's best, and that normalisation of ties would bring them back in the blink of an eye. As of now, that will have to wait, and even a man as optimistic as Nabil dares not predict when the good old days will return.

-- The Nation 2012-06-16

[toenail]

Thailand should not worry about "normal relations" with a government that treats their workers from developing countries (TCN's is the term used there) like a spec of dirt. Though there is a serious unemployment problem in Saudi, the locals feel that they are "above" doing service jobs such as sweeping the streets, being an electrican, car mechanic, working in a store or restaurant, being a construction worker...the arrogant Saudis all want to have an office and be a boss. Workers from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Phillipines and even Nepal are brought in to do these jobs under poor working conditions and sometimes not receiving their pay. Thailand can feel fortunate.

[tominbkk]

Unfortunately it will never be fully resolved. Especially since some very very VIPs here in Thailand are holding on to some of the key pieces of rock that were stolen.

[RubbaJohnny]

Just because the KSA cannot find it doesn't man its missing.

I fear Ali Baba has met his match.

Despite aproposed travel ban and boycott they still find Siam attractive.

Of course most right minded folks prefer to chant around a rock and outfit their squaws in binliners.

Depsite is many fults Id sooner watch ablank screen of True Eurosoccer thn the chop square mutilations and beheadings that pass for public spectacle in Ar Riyadh a nation where blood money womens rights and treatment of minorities would disgust any country not a slve to cheap oil.

[rotary]

Thailand should not worry about "normal relations" with a government that treats their workers from developing countries (TCN's is the term used there) like a spec of dirt. Though there is a serious unemployment problem in Saudi, the locals feel that they are "above" doing service jobs such as sweeping the streets, being an electrican, car mechanic, working in a store or restaurant, being a construction worker...the arrogant Saudis all want to have an office and be a boss. Workers from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Phillipines and even Nepal are brought in to do these jobs under poor working conditions and sometimes not receiving their pay. Thailand can feel fortunate.

This poster is 100% correct. I doubt that even if relations were good there would be very few jobs worth having that Thai's would want. Many of the jobs that Thai's might do in KSA are done by Third Country Nationals from Bangladesh, Somali, Nepal, etc at cheaper salaries in Saudi than a Thai would be paid in Thailand. There is also the "agent" scams where a large part of the money the TCN earns the agent gets. Then they get treated like dirt to boot. Thai's should not cry over not having jobs in Saudi that pay less money than the same job pays in Thailand in reality.

[Sydebolle]

Unfortunately it will never be fully resolved. Especially since some very very VIPs here in Thailand are holding on to some of the key pieces of rock that were stolen.

That was mentioned 20 years ago already. The "bearers" answered, that these were in fact copies. The reference of "how can you have copies without originals to copy" was never answered though. Remember that part of the saga, when some of the crown jewels of the House of Saud were found in a som-tam-plastic bag hanging off the branch of a tree. Now how is this for a change. The little pig farmer from Chiang Mai, who got arrested also two decades ago and went free shortly afterwards (with a nice wad of money somewhere) could never explain, how he moved 500kgs of jewels in his 20kgs baggage allowance. Oh well ........

[clockman]

This saga is stranger than fiction, Having spent twenty years in Saudi. I would say both sides are involved in the robbery. And it will not be solved till all persons are dead!

[SuneeTH]

Although it has been sighted on the neck of some hi-so lady, the blue diamond is still missing.

Sad.

[Naam]

That was mentioned 20 years ago already. The "bearers" answered, that these were in fact copies. The reference of "how can you have copies without originals to copy" was never answered though. Remember that part of the saga, when some of the crown jewels of the House of Saud were found in a som-tam-plastic bag hanging off the branch of a tree. Now how is this for a change. The little pig farmer from Chiang Mai, who got arrested also two decades ago and went free shortly afterwards (with a nice wad of money somewhere) could never explain, how he moved 500kgs of jewels in his 20kgs baggage allowance. Oh well ........

he moved the 500kg of jewelry with a seagoing Ferrari that had a 64-cylinder engine with an output of 168,000 horsepowers.

question: when was the last time the tooth fairy paid you a visit?

[spidermike007]

Thailand should not worry about "normal relations" with a government that treats their workers from developing countries (TCN's is the term used there) like a spec of dirt. Though there is a serious unemployment problem in Saudi, the locals feel that they are "above" doing service jobs such as sweeping the streets, being an electrican, car mechanic, working in a store or restaurant, being a construction worker...the arrogant Saudis all want to have an office and be a boss. Workers from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Phillipines and even Nepal are brought in to do these jobs under poor working conditions and sometimes not receiving their pay. Thailand can feel fortunate.

What is your problem? Does Thailand treat the Burmese workers with more respect? Does immigration treat the farengs attempting to live here with more respect? Which planet are you living on? You have to find a way to mix your naive brand of idealism, with the way life works on planet earth, then come back contribute to the discussion.

[theblether]

Saudi Arabia will just need to accept it's been bumped and get on with it. I'm pretty sure they have their moneys worth out of Thai oil imports.

Hanging on for 17 years begins to look desperate.

[apetley]

Saudi Arabia will just need to accept it's been bumped and get on with it. I'm pretty sure they have their moneys worth out of Thai oil imports.

Hanging on for 17 years begins to look desperate.

Thai face butts Arab face.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

[MEL1]

"Just when Thailand will have a government that can concentrate better on external issues is anyone's guess."

-----

Well that's not a difficult one to answer, or even need a guess at. The answer is never.

Why?

First:

Because Thai attitude is so far up its own back passage when it comes to believing external issues are irrelevant to this land.

Second:

Thai ministers are only interested in what's to be had with hands in the internal bag, regarding internal tea-money.

External ventures are not so easy to bend or exploit, and so the externals are of no key financial importance!

-mel.

Edited June 16, 2012 by MEL1

[Bender]

Thailand should not worry about "normal relations" with a government that treats their workers from developing countries (TCN's is the term used there) like a spec of dirt. Though there is a serious unemployment problem in Saudi, the locals feel that they are "above" doing service jobs such as sweeping the streets, being an electrican, car mechanic, working in a store or restaurant, being a construction worker...the arrogant Saudis all want to have an office and be a boss. Workers from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Phillipines and even Nepal are brought in to do these jobs under poor working conditions and sometimes not receiving their pay. Thailand can feel fortunate.

But not sure that Burmese people can feel fortunate to work in ... thailand

[EyesWideOpen]

Thailand imports about 70% of its oil from the Middle East. The true nightmare for Thailand would be if one day Saudia Arabia wakes up one morning and decides it wants to bring an end to this affair. They would simply need to get together with the other oil producers in the area, and arrange a boycott of Thailand. This would bring Thailand to its knees and losing face on a mind boggling level. So it would be far better now if the diamond mysteriously showed up in a box at a police station. Results ??

1. Billions of baht for future Thai workers

2. Eliminate any long term threat economic to Thailand from Saudi Arabia

3. One less piece of jewelry in a safe somewhere

4. Get this issue out of the way before somebody makes a movie about it..... :-)

[Dap]

Thailand imports about 70% of its oil from the Middle East. The true nightmare for Thailand would be if one day Saudia Arabia wakes up one morning and decides it wants to bring an end to this affair. They would simply need to get together with the other oil producers in the area, and arrange a boycott of Thailand. This would bring Thailand to its knees and losing face on a mind boggling level. So it would be far better now if the diamond mysteriously showed up in a box at a police station. Results ??

1. Billions of baht for future Thai workers

2. Eliminate any long term threat economic to Thailand from Saudi Arabia

3. One less piece of jewelry in a safe somewhere

4. Get this issue out of the way before somebody makes a movie about it..... :-)

And that movie is loooong overdue.

[brianP]

I can't wait until petroleum products are obsolete and Thailand with its enterprising people and self reliant energy in place shows the world how to be happy. It's a shame material luxury items cause problems in the modern world still...!

[LomSak27]

Toe nail and Rotary - do you even have a clue what this is all about? Easy enough to search on the internet for the Blue Diamond and then you won't appear to be so ignorant.

Make it so

[MobileContent]

The issue is more about the killing of Mohammad Al-Ruwaily, a Saudi business men.

[gand]

Thailand does not need Saudi.

[TheCure]

Saudi Arabia will just need to accept it's been bumped and get on with it. I'm pretty sure they have their moneys worth out of Thai oil imports.

Hanging on for 17 years begins to look desperate.

I bet you wouldn't drivel so much if your relatives has been on the receiving end of the thai mafia .

Would you ?

[dcsw53]

More important issues on the political agenda is just a convenient excuse. The whole world doesn't have time. It is the will that is lacking.

Things are changing, just look at the number of thobes ( Arab mans clothes ) and abayas you see on the streets of BKK these days. Today they mostly come from Dubai for shopping ( ladies ) and medical treatment ( overweight men ) , but word is getting around here and before long tourism from here will rocket.

Luck Thailand !!

[Buchholz]

Still no resolution to the Thai-Saudi diplomatic spat

.

Yesterday, the Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia continued its barring of Thai workers after it turned down a request from Saudi Arabia's Labor Ministry to lift it for Thai maids to work in Saudi Arabia.

The full ban remains in place.

.

[Buchholz]

Saudi upholds ban on Thai workers

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has rejected a request to allow Thai domestic workers to return to work in the Gulf state in a bid to help ease the shortage of maids, it has been reported.

The kingdom’s Labour Ministry reportedly requested that a nine-year ban on domestic staff from Thailand be lifted but the Interior Ministry denied the application, Arabic daily Al-Watan said.

Saudi citizens are not allowed to travel to Thailand without official consent from the Ministry of Interior.

Continued:
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/saudi-upholds-ban-on-thai-workers-492659.html

Arabian Business Report - March 11, 2013

.

[waza]

Twenty-one years have passed and 17 Thai governments come and gone since criminal cases first rocked diplomatic relations between our countries. It has been a tiresome saga of Saudi hope, Thai nonchalance and then stalled progress in the efforts to re-boost bilateral ties.

After 21 years you would have thought the Saudi's would have taken the hint, your not getting the jewels back

Perhaps they should hold Thaksin hostage till they do.

Edited March 11, 2013 by waza

[waza]

Unfortunately it will never be fully resolved. Especially since some very very VIPs here in Thailand are holding on to some of the key pieces of rock that were stolen.

That was mentioned 20 years ago already. The "bearers" answered, that these were in fact copies. The reference of "how can you have copies without originals to copy" was never answered though. Remember that part of the saga, when some of the crown jewels of the House of Saud were found in a som-tam-plastic bag hanging off the branch of a tree. Now how is this for a change. The little pig farmer from Chiang Mai, who got arrested also two decades ago and went free shortly afterwards (with a nice wad of money somewhere) could never explain, how he moved 500kgs of jewels in his 20kgs baggage allowance. Oh well ........

I sent them back to Thailand via Fedex

Two decades ago, a Thai gardener climbed into the palace of a Saudi prince through a second-story window, busted open a safe with a screwdriver and stole some 200 pounds of jewelry........After the 1989 jewel heist, the gardener, Kriangkrai Techamong, airmailed the loot to his home in northern Thailand and hightailed it back, according to reports in the local press.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1969920,00.html#ixzz2NEq0vKeZ

The graft, murders, and kidnappings that followed this incident resulted in a rift in the Saudi-Thai relationship that has lasted to the present day, compounded by the murder of four Saudi diplomats in 1989-1990 in circumstances never clearly explained publicly.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/50038/wikileaks-cable-the-curse-of-the-blue-diamond/

Edited March 11, 2013 by waza

[EyesWideOpen]

Like I said before, if Saudi Arabia arranges a oil boycott of Thailand, this case will be solved INSTANTLY..... The knowledge is in place, just a matter of finding the will. This whole saga is sort of an inside look at what is wrong with Thailand. Police, including the head policeman for all of Thailand, killing people right and left , the arrogance of Thailand trying to return copies of the jewels, and hisos that would rather have jewels in their safes than have the people from Isan working away in Saudia Arabia making billions of baht...

[Johpa]

This saga is stranger than fiction, Having spent twenty years in Saudi. I would say both sides are involved in the robbery. And it will not be solved till all persons are dead!

Careful there of violating the rules. But the Saudis, at least certain factions within the Ibn Saud family, have been getting their revenge by funding madrasas down south. This is a long playing story worthy of the Bard of Avon who often wrote of intrigue in high places.

[GooEng]

Saudis are also prevented travelling to Thailand. They can go, but when they apply to renew their passports, if there is a thai stamp in it their application is denied. I have many saudi colleagues who would love to visit Thailand but cannot for this reason.

Sent from my iPad-mini.

[Carib]

Makes a nice read about this "affair" : http://asiancorrespondent.com/50038/wikileaks-cable-the-curse-of-the-blue-diamond/