The Nation's insult: "Hun Sen has perhaps forgotten the bad old days when Cambodia was not allowed to join Burma and Laos as new members of Asean"

Thailand prepared to lead Asean, despite barbs

EDITORIAL
September 17, 2008
The Nation

"As host, Thailand will accept valid criticism. After all, we live in an open society with a free press. We should be sporting if Hun Sen made his comments in good faith. But it would be better if Hun Sen paid more attention to domestic development in his country and makes sure that the overall standard of living of the Cambodian people is improved. Certainly, Thailand is imperfect. Our democracy is in a mess and it is there for the world to see. But we do not pretend to be better than any other country."

Cambodian PM makes unwarranted comments on Thai ability to chair regional summit meetings

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen knows how to hit where it hurts the most when it comes to his western neighbour. Unwittingly, he suggested that Thailand should give up the current Asean chair to either Singapore or Vietnam. Singapore was the previous chair and Vietnam will take over in 2010. Hun Sen said the Thai political situation is uncertain, therefore the country is not fit to host a series of Asean meetings. His comment is somewhat vicious and can be compared with those of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who said Burma should be kicked out of Asean.

Hun Sen was probably thinking of a similar situation involving Burma. In 2005, during the Asean ministerial meeting in Vientiane, the Burmese delegation proposed giving up its upcoming chairmanship because the country was not ready for the responsibility due to the domestic situation. Certainly, nobody should blame Hun Sen for thinking aloud that the current situation in Thailand is anything but normal. But he should know that the ongoing political certainty will in no way affect the host's ability to chair the grouping. Over the weekend, the lifting of the emergency returned some sense of normalcy to the country. Tourists are returning to Thailand.

Southeast Asia's longest-serving prime minister wants to embarrass Thailand further, following the border dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple. The countries almost went to war when their troops confronted each other, but tension eased after a series of talks. Bilateral dialogue and negotiations will continue and the two countries should be able to eventually settle their long-standing differences without resorting to force.

Somehow, Hun Sen believes that the political situation in Thailand should be further exploited because it will boost his own popularity at home ahead of the implementation of the Asean Charter. Hun Sen has perhaps forgotten the bad old days when Cambodia was not allowed to join Burma and Laos as new members of Asean. He fumed and vowed not to join the grouping. Of course, he changed his mind.

It was Hun Sen and the leader of his rival political party, represented by foreign minister Ung Huot, who requested Asean assistance a decade ago. Without Asean's help then, who knows what would have happened in Cambodia. A new election was held in mid-1998 and when the situation in Cambodia returned to normal, the country was admitted to Asean a year later. No Asean members belittled Cambodia when it was at its nadir; there was only a genuine desire to help.

Thailand has affirmed time and again that it is ready and well-prepared to discharge its Asean responsibility. As a founding member of Asean, Thailand takes special pride in its role of chair this time. It is the second time that Thailand will host the Asean summit, and the current Asean secretary-general is Dr Surin Pitsuwan, a former foreign minister.

At the Asean senior officials' meeting earlier this month, the permanent secretary for foreign affairs reiterated Thailand's readiness to chair and host the Asean summits. The meeting expressed confidence in the host, and senior officials proceeded to jointly prepare topics for discussion during the upcoming summit. In fact, they all appreciated Thailand's determination to be a good host. If the Cambodian delegates shared the same sentiment as Hun Sen, they indeed concealed their feelings well. That would be a new standard in Asean as far as hypocrisy is concerned.

As host, Thailand will accept valid criticism. After all, we live in an open society with a free press. We should be sporting if Hun Sen made his comments in good faith. But it would be better if Hun Sen paid more attention to domestic development in his country and makes sure that the overall standard of living of the Cambodian people is improved. Certainly, Thailand is imperfect. Our democracy is in a mess and it is there for the world to see. But we do not pretend to be better than any other country.