Noppadon doesn't want ties with Cambodia hurt
Saturday June 14, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL & WASSANA NANUAM
Bangkok Post
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has asked the supreme commander to order military officers who have no authority to refrain from giving interviews about the disputed Preah Vihear temple. The move came after an army source complained to the media on Thursday that a new Cambodian map of the Preah Vihear temple was found to encroach on Thai territory by up to 10 metres in two critical areas.
Mr Noppadon said he had asked the ministry's permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul to talk with Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit and insist his subordinates not give interviews about sensitive state issues.
''Just think about who will benefit from this. Don't hide by identifying yourself as 'a source'. I don't want ill-intentioned people to derail this smooth-running train,'' said Mr Noppadon.
He warned those who have no authority to give interviews to refrain from saying anything that could affect Thailand's relations with Cambodia.
''I have the authority to speak about this issue, so let me speak alone. If anybody dares to give interviews, please use your real name. I will let the defence minister warn him,'' said Mr Noppadon.
He also advised people not to arouse nationalistic sentiment and not to let politics damage national benefits.
He was referring to the protest by residents of Si Sa Ket province over the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site and about Cambodians building houses and shops beyond Cambodia's border with Thailand.
Mr Noppadon said the issues will be resolved step by step. He noted that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his deputy Sok An were cooperating with Thailand on the temple issue.
The Foreign Ministry will submit the new map to the National Security Council (NSC) and the cabinet to endorse next week, said the minister.
He said all problems about the new map have been resolved now that Thai agencies have verified the map against the actual site.
''I have already discussed this issue with the Cambodian side and I will not do anything on which I can be attacked later,'' said Mr Noppadon.
Cambodia handed the new map to Thailand on June 5 for consideration after both countries agreed in Paris late last month at a Unesco-brokered meeting to draw up the new map.
The Phnom Penh government plans to submit the map to the Unesco committee later this month to propose the temple ruins as a World Heritage Site.
The Unesco committee will meet early next month in Quebec, Canada.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tarit Charungwat said everything had been done openly.
''The government has acted with full transparency, using the principle of national sovereignty as the guiding force,'' he said.
''When the work has been done in accordance with the proper process, we can explain it accurately,'' he said.
Gen Boonsrang yesterday admitted that Mr Noppadon had called him to request the military not grant any interviews about Preah Vihear.
''He told me the military should not give any interviews related to the Preah Vihear temple as the issue is now being handled by the Foreign Ministry.
''If an interview is given, it may cause some trouble. The Foreign Ministry will hold talks with Cambodia over the issue,'' said Gen Boonsrang. He has already instructed his subordinates to hold their tongues.
Gen Boonsrang said the Foreign Ministry, which is the key negotiator, must take the ultimate responsibility.
Mr Noppadon said he had asked the ministry's permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul to talk with Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit and insist his subordinates not give interviews about sensitive state issues.
''Just think about who will benefit from this. Don't hide by identifying yourself as 'a source'. I don't want ill-intentioned people to derail this smooth-running train,'' said Mr Noppadon.
He warned those who have no authority to give interviews to refrain from saying anything that could affect Thailand's relations with Cambodia.
''I have the authority to speak about this issue, so let me speak alone. If anybody dares to give interviews, please use your real name. I will let the defence minister warn him,'' said Mr Noppadon.
He also advised people not to arouse nationalistic sentiment and not to let politics damage national benefits.
He was referring to the protest by residents of Si Sa Ket province over the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site and about Cambodians building houses and shops beyond Cambodia's border with Thailand.
Mr Noppadon said the issues will be resolved step by step. He noted that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his deputy Sok An were cooperating with Thailand on the temple issue.
The Foreign Ministry will submit the new map to the National Security Council (NSC) and the cabinet to endorse next week, said the minister.
He said all problems about the new map have been resolved now that Thai agencies have verified the map against the actual site.
''I have already discussed this issue with the Cambodian side and I will not do anything on which I can be attacked later,'' said Mr Noppadon.
Cambodia handed the new map to Thailand on June 5 for consideration after both countries agreed in Paris late last month at a Unesco-brokered meeting to draw up the new map.
The Phnom Penh government plans to submit the map to the Unesco committee later this month to propose the temple ruins as a World Heritage Site.
The Unesco committee will meet early next month in Quebec, Canada.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tarit Charungwat said everything had been done openly.
''The government has acted with full transparency, using the principle of national sovereignty as the guiding force,'' he said.
''When the work has been done in accordance with the proper process, we can explain it accurately,'' he said.
Gen Boonsrang yesterday admitted that Mr Noppadon had called him to request the military not grant any interviews about Preah Vihear.
''He told me the military should not give any interviews related to the Preah Vihear temple as the issue is now being handled by the Foreign Ministry.
''If an interview is given, it may cause some trouble. The Foreign Ministry will hold talks with Cambodia over the issue,'' said Gen Boonsrang. He has already instructed his subordinates to hold their tongues.
Gen Boonsrang said the Foreign Ministry, which is the key negotiator, must take the ultimate responsibility.
6 comments:
I'm certain a new coup is in the works; in fact ... with out a doubt, once the plan is choreographed and orchestrated and implemented, the whole political "equatation" will unequivocally change, which inevitably put the regional neighbors on the precipice of regional war politically -- initially, and then the military action could ensue.
Chan
that explains why there's only need to have one prime minister as too many people interfered with the diplomatic and work of the thai foreign ministry's work. in political science, they taught that sometimes too much power to the general people are actually dangerous for a nation, diplomatically speaking. should be left to an authorized autority to make sound reasonable decision the may benefit all to come. don't mess this chance up, thailand. the world knows of your dispecable intention on cambodia's preah vihear temple and no doubt about it whatsoever that if it weren't for the cambodian temple, the area of preah vihear would have no value whatsoever. cambodia knows this and we can not lose this important national crusade to safeguard our preah vihear temple. god bless cambodia.
good that mr noppadon used his authoritative status to warn the thai army on meddling with this duty and the work of the foreign ministry dept. it's like the top pentagon official meddling with the duties of the president of the united states, who is the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the USA. it's just doesn't work that that. same concept here! god bless cambodia.
It doesn't matter who the President is. they usually don't messed with the corrupted DoD.
Ah Siamese should be happy what his friend (Mr.HUN SEN) offered. The offered however still illegal to Cambodians Nation. Don't be so arrogant, you're water on Lotus leaf, do you know that?.
May god bless Sdach-Ta & his people!
The coup!..Hmm!...I don't know really. I think Siamese useing this tactic to harrass Hun Sen GV; they played differently between GV, Mili..and the black clade Gansters; these echelon expreesed distingue view toward HUN SEN GV, it seem to me like HUN SEN GV talking to a wrong group of people all the time. What is the reason behind?..I think they got benifits from this cunning tactic. Mr. HUN SEN must think twice if you're seving Cabodian nation. PL.K
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