The Nation
EDITORIALS
Foreign ministry's arrogance and superior airs led in part to Noppadon's career-ending gaffe
The resignation of Noppadon Pattama from his post at the Foreign Affairs Ministry has set a precedent that could affect the entire government apparatus, including Parliament, which used to enjoy some degree of freedom, especially in its dealings with foreign powers.
Moreover, members of other agencies, including all branches of Thailand's armed forces, were said to be going through their documents, memorandums of understanding, contracts and agreements, to make sure that a document will not come back and haunt them the way it did Noppadon.
According to the Constitution Court, the former minister acted unconstitutionally when he endorsed Cambodia's application to have Preah Vihear Temple registered as a Unesco World Heritage site without first consulting Parliament on the matter.
Many Thai scholars argue that his endorsement and that of the Cabinet undermined Thailand's claim to the disputed land around the temple, which is situated on the Thai-Cambodian border.
Critics were quick to link the endorsement to all kinds of conspiracy theories, including suggesting that it was tied to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's potential investments in Cambodia.
Conspiracy theories aside, what is clear is that Noppadon bit off more than he could chew. He was hoping that by closing the chapter on Preah Vihear, Thai-Cambodian relations in the long run could develop and expand into other areas, be they political, social or economic.
The reason his gamble did not pay off has much to do with the manner in which the sensitive issue was handled. The fact that he overlooked the role of Parliament suggests that Noppadon, and the government for that matter, had little regard for the spirit of the Constitution, which in Article 190 details the role of parliamentarians in determining the course of the country's foreign affairs.
The Constitution Court's ruling against Noppadon was a wake-up call for all - the officials at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, whose elitist attitude and culture of isolation were part of the reason behind Noppadon's downfall, and the parliamentarians who will likely think twice before raising their hands to vote in the future.
As difficult as it may be, the executive branch will have to hand some of its power to the parliamentarians. The thought of some hick MPs debating technical issues related to international relations may give some Foreign Ministry officials the creeps. Surely, some of them must have heard Plato's maxim: "The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
In retrospect, Noppadon came into the post with his talk of putting a "good neighbour" policy into action and so on. He saw the rise of Indochina and believed that the spirit of cooperation was the best way to go about it. But nobody told the young man not to be in such a hurry because his imprudence might come back to haunt him.
The People's Alliance for Democracy and the opposition saw an opening and went for the kill. They did it with no mercy whatsoever. Some of them talked nonsense without relying on facts and historical data on the controversial temple.
We are living in interesting times, indeed. All of a sudden, Thailand's best and brightest at the Foreign Ministry are not good enough to handle the new and multifaceted challenges facing them. They watched Noppadon take Thailand into unfamiliar territory, make a fool of himself and turn the country into an international laughing stock.
Like Noppadon, they will have to get out of their traditional comfort zone and learn a thing or two about national politics and local sentiment. Along the way, it is hoped that they will come to the realisation that they are no better than any one of us.
The resignation of Noppadon Pattama from his post at the Foreign Affairs Ministry has set a precedent that could affect the entire government apparatus, including Parliament, which used to enjoy some degree of freedom, especially in its dealings with foreign powers.
Moreover, members of other agencies, including all branches of Thailand's armed forces, were said to be going through their documents, memorandums of understanding, contracts and agreements, to make sure that a document will not come back and haunt them the way it did Noppadon.
According to the Constitution Court, the former minister acted unconstitutionally when he endorsed Cambodia's application to have Preah Vihear Temple registered as a Unesco World Heritage site without first consulting Parliament on the matter.
Many Thai scholars argue that his endorsement and that of the Cabinet undermined Thailand's claim to the disputed land around the temple, which is situated on the Thai-Cambodian border.
Critics were quick to link the endorsement to all kinds of conspiracy theories, including suggesting that it was tied to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's potential investments in Cambodia.
Conspiracy theories aside, what is clear is that Noppadon bit off more than he could chew. He was hoping that by closing the chapter on Preah Vihear, Thai-Cambodian relations in the long run could develop and expand into other areas, be they political, social or economic.
The reason his gamble did not pay off has much to do with the manner in which the sensitive issue was handled. The fact that he overlooked the role of Parliament suggests that Noppadon, and the government for that matter, had little regard for the spirit of the Constitution, which in Article 190 details the role of parliamentarians in determining the course of the country's foreign affairs.
The Constitution Court's ruling against Noppadon was a wake-up call for all - the officials at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, whose elitist attitude and culture of isolation were part of the reason behind Noppadon's downfall, and the parliamentarians who will likely think twice before raising their hands to vote in the future.
As difficult as it may be, the executive branch will have to hand some of its power to the parliamentarians. The thought of some hick MPs debating technical issues related to international relations may give some Foreign Ministry officials the creeps. Surely, some of them must have heard Plato's maxim: "The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
In retrospect, Noppadon came into the post with his talk of putting a "good neighbour" policy into action and so on. He saw the rise of Indochina and believed that the spirit of cooperation was the best way to go about it. But nobody told the young man not to be in such a hurry because his imprudence might come back to haunt him.
The People's Alliance for Democracy and the opposition saw an opening and went for the kill. They did it with no mercy whatsoever. Some of them talked nonsense without relying on facts and historical data on the controversial temple.
We are living in interesting times, indeed. All of a sudden, Thailand's best and brightest at the Foreign Ministry are not good enough to handle the new and multifaceted challenges facing them. They watched Noppadon take Thailand into unfamiliar territory, make a fool of himself and turn the country into an international laughing stock.
Like Noppadon, they will have to get out of their traditional comfort zone and learn a thing or two about national politics and local sentiment. Along the way, it is hoped that they will come to the realisation that they are no better than any one of us.
13 comments:
Mr. Nappadon may be guilty of not consulting with the parliament, but to TRY TO EVICT him on the matter such as Preah Vihear which should be otherwise accepted as it belongs to Cambodia LEGALLY and make a big deal out of it or thinking it was your own ( Siam's )and try to direct him into doing wrong thing or want him to fight for it like most of you greedy poeple is DEAD WRONG. It's a two completely diffrent matter and very very immoral!YOU'RE SICK THAILAND!!!
Thai people try to make something out of nothing ,it was too late ,Mr.
Nappadon he was right,but how can we do? If one nation are crazy ,it doesn't matter ,Nappadon wasn't crazy so the conclusion is Mr.Nappadon forced to loose the job
May God Buddha take care the straight man!!!!!!!
They always cut the staight logs for bar lubers and have always keep the curvy not straight in the jungle or in the khmer 's socialist.
This article must have been dictated by king Pubimol himself.
It takes a pretty distorted mind write this kind of shit.
As long the Khmer people in Issan are against their government misbehaving by agreeing to Cambodia listing the stolen temple, there shouldn't be any legal implication. Everything should legally belongs to Khmer people in Issan Province as usual.
Guys,
Stop replying to ah Youn and Siam who pretended to be Khmer Issan. These people are retarded no use.
SIAM IS A SHAMELESS NATION.
ITS PEOPLE BELIEVE IN BUDDHISM, BUT THEY ACT IN CONTRAST WITH THE BUDDHA'S THEORIES.
BUDDHA NEVER ADVISED THEM TO WANT THINGS OR OTHERS'PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT BELONG TO THEM.
A NATION FULL OF SUCH PEOPLE, SOONER OR LATER, WILL MEET ITS DOOM DAY.
WORLD GODS WILL CAST BLACK SPELL ON THIS CROOKED NATION TO DISTROY IT FROM THE EARTH AND MAINTAIN THE HONEST KHMER NATION TO BE PROSPEROUS.
OH...,HALELOYA,HALELOYA, MAY THIS SIAM NATION BE CURSED WITH BLACK SPELL AND WILL BE DISAPPEARED FROM THE EARTH SOON.
MAY PROSPERITY AND GLORY EXIST IN THE NATION OF KHMER ETERNALLY.
THANKS,
SPELL CASTER
The Conspiracy is on the move. It is not bad for Cambodia to throw one stone & kill two birds.
Mr. Nappadon, you did right 2 things:
1) As a human you had to accept the reality that Preak Vihear is in the territory under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
2) As a Thai you had to take responsibility for your work which unable to fulfill the greediness of your people. Your resignation from your post has set a great example which most of Khmer leaders has never done. For their powers, Khmer Leaders (after the falled of The Khmer Empire) has never regretted to do what ever or to kill their own people,
After all, I have pride to be born as Khmer.
Mr. Noppadon and Mr. Samak exercise their brilliant judgment to foster good relations with Cambodia, as Thailand's sovereignty remain intact. It is Abhisit's blind ultra nationalist propaganda that jepardizes Thailand's dignity and prosperity in long run. The people of Cambodia want peace and to rebuild their country after so much tragedy in the recent past. Let us all get along. Truth will prevail!
Yeah, but the Khmer in Issan province is still without their temple.
Give them a finger and they want the whole arm.
Son of a bitch HUN SEN and cronies.Do your job and protect khmer territory.
The thais only understand and cringe when we use force.
Khmer Issan,
You guys need to form some sort of associaton, agency or organization.
Look at Khmer Krom, they doing good.
Khmer Issan is ignored by Thai for soo long and I never see them in the high ranking position in Thai political at all,
If they claim themself as Khmer, they shoud create some sort of political organization to think about the interest of Khmer.
If they want to be part or visit Preah Vihear they can.
Or declare themself an autonomy from Thailand.
Don't be Thailand's slave that long.
It is time for you to think not just go around claim shit from your motherland.
Khmer Issan or Khmer in Thailand in whole needs to wake up!!!!
What good will that do when you allowed greed to control you.
Fact of the matter is Khmer in Issan province played many important roles in Thailand government, but you are too blind to see it because of your greed, and don't try to deny it.
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