Asean must raise its voice over Thai crisis

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Asean must raise its voice over Thai crisis
The Nation

Our neighbours cannot stand by idly while our predicament damages regional integration

BANGKOK: -- The region's leaders must do more than just whisper among themselves when Thai delegates to the Asean summit in Nay Pyi Taw next weekend update them on our political conflict. The truth is that Thais need advice on how to solve their deadlocked crisis.

It is rare for Thai politicians to admit in front of their Southeast Asian peers that they have political difficulties at home, and even more rare for them to ask for advice.

Thais are proud of their political development and democracy. Over the decades, Thailand has played crucial roles in helping solve political disputes in neighbouring countries, notably Cambodia and Myanmar, where it aided moves towards reconciliation and democracy.

But ever since 2006, when Thailand's elite took the misstep of attempting to solve the corruption problem by staging a military coup, our claim to be a genuine democracy has foundered.

The political rift here has widened, even drawing in Cambodia when groups exploited nationalistic sentiment over the Preah Vihear territory dispute for political gain. A domestic conflict was exported and damaged relations with Phnom Penh in a dispute that ended up at the International Court of Justice. It will take years to mend those ties. The tensions have eased, but the case is not yet over, because the two countries have much work to do to comply with the court's verdict. The ongoing dispute has hampered the work of peace-brokers on both sides.

Thailand's eight-year-old political crisis has already damaged opportunities for active participation in many plans and projects to bring about integration for Asean.

Thailand enjoys a central geographical position in mainland Southeast Asia. As such it is a potential transport hub and bridge to link the region. But political conflict and related disagreements over development schemes have delayed, if not completely killed, many transport-related infrastructure projects.

Laos is moving ahead on a high-speed rail link with China, meaning Thailand is likely to become the missing link in a regional railway network.

Myanmar is luring international investors who are helping to build special economic zones and deep-sea ports to link with other countries in the region and in the world. But a crucial part of the Dawei port and economic zone faces the prospect of further delay because Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has poured a lot of energy into this project, is now busy with the political struggle at home.

The acting prime minister plans to attend the coming summit in Myanmar to reassure members of Asean that her administration is doing everything possible to maintain democracy and the rule of law in the Kingdom. But, it is difficult to believe that even Yingluck herself will survive this fierce battle.

As the Thai political conflict poses potentially serious consequences for regional development, Asean members cannot just simply sit and do nothing. Their advice and recommendations, officially or unofficially, are necessary for Thailand at this moment.

Nobody is asking our Asean neighbours to take sides in this battle, but their message to all parties and stakeholders in Thailand must be loud and clear: regain peace and stability at all costs.


-- The Nation 2014-05-06

[Payboy]

The region's leaders must do more than just whisper among themselves when Thai delegates to the Asean summit in Nay Pyi Taw next weekend update them on our political conflict.

They're going to do more than whisper alright. They're going to yawn.

[casindonet]

As if the thais would listen to outside advice....so what's the point.

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[NongKhaiKid]

What a load of rubbish, " we have a problem so the outside world should sort it out ".

[chooka]

Just dismiss Thailand from ASEAN as they are not ready and only a ball and chain. When they develop and reach the required stand in around 500 years they can re apply.

[geovalin]

Good to remind the brawl with Cambodia but the reason was not the crisis in Thailand, it was just the ultra nationalists, the yellow at this time then abisith. It is the policy of the Dems to provoke Cambodia. They still want Preah Vihar.

Point 2: the foreign countries are happy that Thailand is in trouble because Bangkok is always so contemptuous that it's a kind of funny revenge.

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[Tatsujin]

Statement from Thaksin with regards to ASEAN:

"You are not my father, uncle, brother, mother, sister, cousin, nephew, 2nd sister on my 3rd wife's side etc" (select relative as appropriate)

[scorecard]

"The region's leaders must do more than just whisper among themselves when Thai delegates to the Asean summit in Nay Pyi Taw next weekend update them on our political conflict..."

So who will be giving this update? PT political appointees / officials who are told what line they must take.

Balanced assessment? No chance whatever.

[h90]

"Thailand has played crucial roles in helping solve political disputes in neighbouring countries, notably Cambodia and Myanmar, where it aided moves towards reconciliation and democracy."

I recall supporting Pol Pot.....

Trading with the regime in Myanmar and at the same time deliver weapons to freedom fighters (or terrorists). So from whatever opinion you see it it wasn't helpful.

[issanaus]

"Thailand has played crucial roles in helping solve political disputes in neighbouring countries, notably Cambodia and Myanmar, where it aided moves towards reconciliation and democracy."

I recall supporting Pol Pot.....

Trading with the regime in Myanmar and at the same time deliver weapons to freedom fighters (or terrorists). So from whatever opinion you see it it wasn't helpful.

And Burma (Myanmar) is still NOT a democracy!

[ABCer]

Thailand political crisis must be resolved by Thais.

Interference from prospective ASEAN countries would be improper.

Thais are weak, incapable of setting the rules and enforcing them, have no understanding of democracy +++ many more shortcomings.

Any attempt to interfere from outside will only add oil to flames.

In view of present gov't's inability to protect people, democracy and country it is a solemn duty of the Army to step in.

Apparently this time the Army has some agenda precluding them from doing what they have done many times before.

[Shurup]

Wondering what was the international court ruling over the Preah Vihear?

[GuestHouse]

This will not happen. China will play the 'Non Interference in the internal affairs of other countries' card.

They have to, they have to play it every time so they can continue to claim human rights in China are not the same as human rights in the rest of the world.

[BlueNoseCodger]

Thailand political crisis must be resolved by Thais.

Interference from prospective ASEAN countries would be improper.

Thais are weak, incapable of setting the rules and enforcing them, have no understanding of democracy +++ many more shortcomings.

Any attempt to interfere from outside will only add oil to flames.

In view of present gov't's inability to protect people, democracy and country it is a solemn duty of the Army to step in.

Apparently this time the Army has some agenda precluding them from doing what they have done many times before.

Funny isn't it? I remember Suthep right at the start of this, demanding the military meet him before 8pm the next day. They declined, he then threatens to arrest them for disobedience once he gets power. He thought his backer GG's influence on the military was good enough to order their obedience to him, regardless of laws and rules and chain of command.

There's no way the military will get involved again, especially to save Suthep and Abhisit.

The military has two problems, firstly 2010 was a failure, it didn't secure dominance of the minority Democrats over the majority of people, and secondly, the world gets to see their dirty laundery in minute detail now that the internet see all and remembers all...

Aphisit ordered a military crackdown on the

red-shirted mob a few hours after making some remarks, which caused the

senators to think that he was ready for negotiation. During the early

hours of 19 May, many believed that the country would have a way out to

avoid loss, but a great tragedy took place. Prasopsuk Bundet (the Senate

speaker) and General Loetrat Rattanawanit (a senator) were e mbarrassed.

The huge causalities of the Black May of 1992 and the Black May of 2010

even stunned the soldiers....

More coordination would have been needed with the Special Warfare Command

and the Air Force Special Forces, which would request the BTS (Bangkok

Mass Transit System) to suspend its train service. The troops from those

units would need to get to the train tracks to launch an attack from

several points to kill the red-shirted people. On the ground, T85 armored

personnel carriers were used to lead an offensive while special warfare

troops were on the train tracks. The final destination was the main stage,

i.e., the Ratchaprasong intersection.

At the Sala Daeng intersection, the first point of main attack, the

special warfare troops had the duty of shooting at ha rdliners and

protesters below, who stepped out of the battlefront, but still could not

survive....

In the night of 18 May, Aphisit announced in the middle of a split

gathering of the top brass that the negotiation was long over. The

implication was that the operation "Ratchaprasong Seizure 2010" would go

ahead as was planned secretly two days earlier...

Given the lesson learned on 10 April, when the soldiers were defeated, the

Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) showed green

light to shoot those people at sight with live bullets no matter whether

they had weapons or not.

Frankly speaking, it was some kind of fun for the soldiers to be able to

shoot live bullets on living targets. Witnessing real people running was

more enjoyable than shooting at paper targets with blank bullets or

shouting "bang, bang, bang" during a battle drill. They could see the

targets falling down and blood spilling. They did not have to worry about

wasting bu llets and did not have to collect the spent cartridges to be

returned to their supervisors. It was a dream come true for those

blood-thirsty soldiers. We hope they would do the same when fighting

against the Cambodian soldiers....

It is obvious that today the Democrat-led government under the leader of

Aphisit, who is more aggressive than some military figures or field

marshals in the Army, is victorious. They also have the backing of the

Army, which is ready to follow their orders even though they have to shoot

at fellow Thais. The more they are strong, the more people would bow down

to them and want to join them as the winning side. Early house dissolution

and snap election are now out of the question. It is because Aphisit is

now strong and has the upper hand. Some generals agree to the nickname

"little Sarit" (the late dictatorial Prime Minister Field Marshal Sarit

Thanarat). Moreover, there have been no calls for the leader to take his

responsibility.

You speak about dangerous things. You are brave, but foolhardy. Things are going to get ugly. Some may blame that on you,....

The original article is from Matichon and was originally in Thai, so hardly brave.

Edited May 6, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[ABCer]

FengFerang, your "... foolhardy..." - cannot place it. Is it about me or the other poster?

In any case, better clarify my position.

I am a foreigner and a guest here. Personally I couldn't give a toss between Suthep, Abhisit, Yingluck or Taksin. Not my business.

But to see any person holding the Nation by the gills, openly threatening democracy, paralyzing the capital, behaving like a lunatic, issuing requests to HM the King, attempting to assume

command over the Army, placing members of Gov't under house arrest, etc. etc. etc. makes me wonder about the ability of present Thai Gov't to govern.

I have read here on TV some admiration of the size of this man's balls. Shame! Somebody should have cut them off and hang them on his ears as a warning to others.

[trainman34014]

If you ask people in other Asean countries what they think about Thailand being the 'hub' of Asean, they normally just laugh. Some say Thailand is the mental asylum of Asia. Some say 'nice beaches and cheap food ', others just decline to comment.

[Jack007]

Thailand is a major political issue, but that can not be solved by ASEAN because they all have problems with the C-word.
The best solution can come from the politics of Australia or Europe.

ASEAN is the major competitor for Thailand and its people.
But pride will perish if they realize their big mistake.

ASEAN could bring much production outside Thailand, because of the strict regulations and toher C habit.
Democracy has in Thailand a different meaning than the other countries of the world here.

Good luck Thailand. but go ahead to learn Chinese.

[i claudius]

As if Thailand cares or will change anything when the Asean starts anyway ."so it was so it always will be".

[issanaus]

No country in Asean has clean hands in such matter and fears mud being thrown back

No Asean country puts events in other countries before their own economic and other interests

Some Asean countries can see a benefit in the situation as it is

Thailand will not listen anyway

Why would they risk becoming involved?

Talking about realities not necessarily what maybe right or wrong

[TVGerry]

Haha didn't Surapong the honest say ASEAN had already drafted a letter supporting the Shinawatra government? Doesn't seem so does it now?

[freedom4life]

Just dismiss Thailand from ASEAN as they are not ready and only a ball and chain. When they develop and reach the required stand in around 500 years they can re apply.

The question is.. Who is the ball and chain? ASEAN or Thailand? You best think about that sir/madam.

[NongKhaiKid]

Statement from Thaksin with regards to ASEAN:

"You are not my father, uncle, brother, mother, sister, cousin, nephew, 2nd sister on my 3rd wife's side etc" (select relative as appropriate)

Incest, a game for all the family, or rolling your own ? same same here

[Thai at Heart]

Thais are proud of their political development and democracy

In comparison with where? North Korea or the latest African country undergoing genocide? If ever there was a faux superiority this must be it. Proud to look down their noses at their neighbours who underwent civil war.

Well.pride before a fall and all that.

[sawadee1947]

The region's leaders must do more than just whisper among themselves when Thai delegates to the Asean summit in Nay Pyi Taw next weekend update them on our political conflict.

They're going to do more than whisper alright. They're going to yawn.

they will rub their hands.....economy will overtake Thai's, tourists will visit THEM and stay away from violence in Thailand

[smedly]

The problem Thailand has and the problem PTP describe to others that they think they have are two very different things and my statement actually describes exactly what the problem is - a mirror might help them understand

[marko kok prong]

Yingluck may not be going anyway if she is charged with corruption.

[RubbaJohnny]

Crisis what crisis,te government cannot create more debt,Belgium buggad along for ages without a government,perhaps export all the MPs save their salries for earthquake relif reafforestation of plots appropriated by pollies and pals,spend flood prevention money and rice support as intended,

Perhaps sea level rise will solve the Bangkok lo-sos

[Publicus]

FengFerang, your "... foolhardy..." - cannot place it. Is it about me or the other poster?

In any case, better clarify my position.

I am a foreigner and a guest here. Personally I couldn't give a toss between Suthep, Abhisit, Yingluck or Taksin. Not my business.

But to see any person holding the Nation by the gills, openly threatening democracy, paralyzing the capital, behaving like a lunatic, issuing requests to HM the King, attempting to assume

command over the Army, placing members of Gov't under house arrest, etc. etc. etc. makes me wonder about the ability of present Thai Gov't to govern.

I have read here on TV some admiration of the size of this man's balls. Shame! Somebody should have cut them off and hang them on his ears as a warning to others.

The 2006 military coup was the most divisive event in the history of Thailand / Siam.

The martial law coup d'état was the worse mistake the military had ever made, going back to the 1991-92 coup, the public reaction against it and the number of Thais killed by the army at the time. Still, in 2010 the army and military special operations forces - not the regular line troops that comprise the mass of the army - came out shooting.

An Associated Press analysis of the present chaos includes the following:

The 2006 coup against Thaksin was a bloodless one, but it was followed up by an inept interim government and triggered the violent polarization that has dogged Thai politics ever since.

Another possibility for the current crisis is a so-called judicial coup. Several cases are pending in the courts and the country's independent oversight agencies — all tilting heavily against the Shinawatras' political machine — that could see Yingluck's party thrown out of office and its members barred from politics. The key bodies are stacked with figures who were opposed to Thaksin and appointed by the unelected government after the 2006 coup.

In a situation where the government has an overwhelming electoral mandate, the court is "the last fortress of the establishment and the authoritarians," said Thamrongsak Lertpetchanan, a political scientist at Rangsit University.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/thai-road-protest-could-lead-political-dead-end

Former Prez Clinton consistently emphasized that in dealing with others, nations especially, one needs to first learn "their worst nightmare" and to address that to get it aside. For China it's internal dissention and dissolution. For Russia it's assault from Europe (1812, 1941) or Western (Nato) encroachment into Eurasia. For Thais, well, it varies based on who one asks in which part of the country, so that doesn't leave much for Asean or anyone else to work with.

Asean's worst nightmare might be a military mutiny coup d'état in Thailand. It's likely that next on the Asean list would be yet another judicial coup due to the harsh instability any new coup would precipitate. The Thai military, which is anyway divided on the issue, knows this too and will not act unless or until things might become grim or severe enough for other democratic governments to include Asean to look away. Judges are more nervous than ever but seem to be moving in step towards the precipice.

Some among the Thai elites increasingly realize and recognize they need neighborly help. So it's encouraging a part of the MSM in the country can and is willing to breach the issue.

The local elites have come to know and appreciate the strength and power of Marty Natalegawa, FM of Indonesia and most recently the leading advocate of an Asean community. Blue Sky won't appreciate Mr. Marty getting into the thick of Thai politics, but the people on the ground would likely welcome it. Given Mr. Marty's record of activism, all he would need is to be invited.

[casindonet]

FengFerang, your "... foolhardy..." - cannot place it. Is it about me or the other poster?

In any case, better clarify my position.

I am a foreigner and a guest here. Personally I couldn't give a toss between Suthep, Abhisit, Yingluck or Taksin. Not my business.

But to see any person holding the Nation by the gills, openly threatening democracy, paralyzing the capital, behaving like a lunatic, issuing requests to HM the King, attempting to assume

command over the Army, placing members of Gov't under house arrest, etc. etc. etc. makes me wonder about the ability of present Thai Gov't to govern.

I have read here on TV some admiration of the size of this man's balls. Shame! Somebody should have cut them off and hang them on his ears as a warning to others.

The 2006 military coup was the most divisive event in the history of Thailand / Siam.

The martial law coup d'état was the worse mistake the military had ever made, going back to the 1991-92 coup, the public reaction against it and the number of Thais killed by the army at the time. Still, in 2010 the army and military special operations forces - not the regular line troops that comprise the mass of the army - came out shooting.

An Associated Press analysis of the present chaos includes the following:

The 2006 coup against Thaksin was a bloodless one, but it was followed up by an inept interim government and triggered the violent polarization that has dogged Thai politics ever since.

Another possibility for the current crisis is a so-called judicial coup. Several cases are pending in the courts and the country's independent oversight agencies — all tilting heavily against the Shinawatras' political machine — that could see Yingluck's party thrown out of office and its members barred from politics. The key bodies are stacked with figures who were opposed to Thaksin and appointed by the unelected government after the 2006 coup.

In a situation where the government has an overwhelming electoral mandate, the court is "the last fortress of the establishment and the authoritarians," said Thamrongsak Lertpetchanan, a political scientist at Rangsit University.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/thai-road-protest-could-lead-political-dead-end

Former Prez Clinton consistently emphasized that in dealing with others, nations especially, one needs to first learn "their worst nightmare" and to address that to get it aside. For China it's internal dissention and dissolution. For Russia it's assault from Europe (1812, 1941) or Western (Nato) encroachment into Eurasia. For Thais, well, it varies based on who one asks in which part of the country, so that doesn't leave much for Asean or anyone else to work with.

Asean's worst nightmare might be a military mutiny coup d'état in Thailand. It's likely that next on the Asean list would be yet another judicial coup due to the harsh instability any new coup would precipitate. The Thai military, which is anyway divided on the issue, knows this too and will not act unless or until things might become grim or severe enough for other democratic governments to include Asean to look away. Judges are more nervous than ever but seem to be moving in step towards the precipice.

Some among the Thai elites increasingly realize and recognize they need neighborly help. So it's encouraging a part of the MSM in the country can and is willing to breach the issue.

The local elites have come to know and appreciate the strength and power of Marty Natalegawa, FM of Indonesia and most recently the leading advocate of an Asean community. Blue Sky won't appreciate Mr. Marty getting into the thick of Thai politics, but the people on the ground would likely welcome it. Given Mr. Marty's record of activism, all he would need is to be invited.

And who in thailand would invite Marty? The thais always consider themselves as above anyone else....the centre of the universe.

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[louse1953]

They did nothing about Burma,so forget Thailand.