REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
October 27, 2008
By Kavi Chongkitthavorn
The Nation
THE FIRST CASUALTY in the Thai-Cambodian conflict is truth. Until today, both countries have continued to insist that the first shot was fired by the other side on October 15 at 2.30pm. In addition, the Cambodian side said its troops captured two Thai soldiers while the Thai army denied the news reports and dismissed the photos showing two Thai prisoners in casual pose released by a major wire service obtained from the Cambodian side as old photos. Several days later, neither side has bothered to substantiate their claims.
Apparently, the two governments were more preoccupied on another front - the information war - how the brief skirmish was reported and perceived by international media and community. Judging from available reports and information, it was obvious Thailand lost the information war to Cambodia. Phnom Penh showed better coordination among various agencies in the capital and along the Thai-Cambodian border in disseminating information from its side.
The Cambodian government, especially Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, shepherded the news headlines with great skill. A few minutes after a meeting and exchanging pleasantries with visiting Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat in Phnom Penh on October 13, Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum for Thailand to remove the Thai troops from the 4.6-square-kilometre overlapping area. He also threatened to take the case to the UN Security Council. Hun Sen's action took the Thai delegation completely by surprise given the nice and cosy atmosphere during the courtesy call.
Since the Thai-Cambodian tension started to simmer in June due to disputes over the World Heritage Site listing of Preah Vihear Temple, which led to sporadic armed clashes, the two countries have met several times. The last two meetings were at the ministerial level between Hor Namhong and former foreign minister Tej Bunnag in August, and the latest round with Sompong recently. They pledged to exercise "utmost restraints" to ensure cessation of fighting along the border. Two Cambodian soldiers were killed in the latest incident and a week before two Thai soldiers were injured by landmines, which the Thai side claimed was newly planted in violation of the 1997 Geneva Convention on Anti-landmines Treaty.
The Cambodian media, coupled with the Phnom Penh-based foreign correspondents, were given wider access to information both in the capital and at the border. Within five hours of the skirmish on October 15, the Cambodian government had already called a press conference as well as provided a briefing to the diplomatic community. The Thai ambassador was also summoned on the same day to the Foreign Ministry.
When shooting started at Huay Tha Mari in Phu Ma Khua, Thai soldiers at the border blocked Thai journalists from entering the conflict areas giving all kinds of excuses. As such, from the Thai side, information and report gathering on-site were limited. Dispatches from Phnom Penh contained more information about the brief clash, including the details of capture of Thai troops.
In more ways than one, the Cambodian media and Phnom Penh-based wire services have portrayed Thailand as a big neighbour, which was trying to divert the domestic attention away from its ongoing political chaos at home. They reflected the Cambodian government's views, widely using quotes from Hun Sen and Hor Namhong. Even Chris Mullins, a British member of Parliament, came out and said that what happened along the border was a result of the actions of the Thai military that turned Thailand's internal problems into a dispute with Cambodia.
Interestingly, the Cambodian media did not touch on the ever-changing positions of Hun Sen regarding proposed negotiations between the two countries. In July, Phnom Penh wanted to Asean to vet the Thai-Cambodian conflict at the Singapore meeting but Thailand opposed the idea saying that they should solve it using bilateral mechanism. Then Hun Sen proposed that the matter should go to the United Nations. Later on, he backtracked. Not long after that, he suggested a mediator should be introduced to help ease the tension. That too was later trumped by another idea of a third party. So far, his views have not got broad support. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made it clear that the issue should be settled bilaterally.
Somehow, Thailand could not match the sophistication of Cambodia's information machinery. Now that the border tension has calmed down, concerned Thai authorities have the opportunity to look back and assess their responses. They have to come to grips with their huge weakness and information loopholes.
First of all, the Thai army still lacks the kind of coordination that could produce rapid response to news reports and disseminating their responses speedily and efficiently. Soldiers in the field are still hostile towards the media's enquiries, creating the impression that they did not trust them and therefore, have something to hide. Phnom Penh-based journalists had access to information at the border's disputed areas, much to the chagrin of Thai journalists.
This weakness has led to the second problem. The information the Foreign Ministry and media obtained from the Thai border was piecemeal and not comprehensive and sometimes inaccurate. For instance, on October 15, the Thai media knew through military sources that fighting had erupted at Phu Ma Khua, which is located on the western side of the Preah Vihear Temple. As it turned out, several kilometres away on the eastern side of the temple, exchange of fire also occurred at Pha Mo E Daeng.
To ensure fast, accurate and systematic news and information dissemination, a media team should be established at the Thai-Cambodian border to deal with information gathering and sharing during the time of crisis. During the Cambodian conflict, the Foreign Ministry set up a regional office at Aranyaprathet to help the Thai armed forces and other government agencies to coordinate with the Cambodian side.
It was interesting to note that before the exchange of gunfire on October 15 afternoon, Nor Namhong called Sompong in the morning and praised the peaceful situation along the border. He also praised Hun Sen for his softer attitude and the appeal for peace. As Sompong was giving a press conference on the same afternoon to report on the progress on Thai-Cambodian talks two days earlier, Sompong found out that fighting had already erupted. He was upset.
Finally, Thai military officials must allow local journalists and Bangkok-based foreign correspondents to have access to the border. Quite often, Thai soldiers on the ground had knee-jerk reactions to journalists covering the conflict. Better handling of the media would go a long way to fight future rounds of the information war.
While the Thai army has shown many weaknesses, it does show some strength and maturity by displaying the utmost restraint. With its overwhelming firepower and greater number of soldiers, the Thai army has chosen to respond to the tension in proportionate ways without any threat of using heavy weapons.
October 27, 2008
By Kavi Chongkitthavorn
The Nation
THE FIRST CASUALTY in the Thai-Cambodian conflict is truth. Until today, both countries have continued to insist that the first shot was fired by the other side on October 15 at 2.30pm. In addition, the Cambodian side said its troops captured two Thai soldiers while the Thai army denied the news reports and dismissed the photos showing two Thai prisoners in casual pose released by a major wire service obtained from the Cambodian side as old photos. Several days later, neither side has bothered to substantiate their claims.
Apparently, the two governments were more preoccupied on another front - the information war - how the brief skirmish was reported and perceived by international media and community. Judging from available reports and information, it was obvious Thailand lost the information war to Cambodia. Phnom Penh showed better coordination among various agencies in the capital and along the Thai-Cambodian border in disseminating information from its side.
The Cambodian government, especially Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, shepherded the news headlines with great skill. A few minutes after a meeting and exchanging pleasantries with visiting Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat in Phnom Penh on October 13, Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum for Thailand to remove the Thai troops from the 4.6-square-kilometre overlapping area. He also threatened to take the case to the UN Security Council. Hun Sen's action took the Thai delegation completely by surprise given the nice and cosy atmosphere during the courtesy call.
Since the Thai-Cambodian tension started to simmer in June due to disputes over the World Heritage Site listing of Preah Vihear Temple, which led to sporadic armed clashes, the two countries have met several times. The last two meetings were at the ministerial level between Hor Namhong and former foreign minister Tej Bunnag in August, and the latest round with Sompong recently. They pledged to exercise "utmost restraints" to ensure cessation of fighting along the border. Two Cambodian soldiers were killed in the latest incident and a week before two Thai soldiers were injured by landmines, which the Thai side claimed was newly planted in violation of the 1997 Geneva Convention on Anti-landmines Treaty.
The Cambodian media, coupled with the Phnom Penh-based foreign correspondents, were given wider access to information both in the capital and at the border. Within five hours of the skirmish on October 15, the Cambodian government had already called a press conference as well as provided a briefing to the diplomatic community. The Thai ambassador was also summoned on the same day to the Foreign Ministry.
When shooting started at Huay Tha Mari in Phu Ma Khua, Thai soldiers at the border blocked Thai journalists from entering the conflict areas giving all kinds of excuses. As such, from the Thai side, information and report gathering on-site were limited. Dispatches from Phnom Penh contained more information about the brief clash, including the details of capture of Thai troops.
In more ways than one, the Cambodian media and Phnom Penh-based wire services have portrayed Thailand as a big neighbour, which was trying to divert the domestic attention away from its ongoing political chaos at home. They reflected the Cambodian government's views, widely using quotes from Hun Sen and Hor Namhong. Even Chris Mullins, a British member of Parliament, came out and said that what happened along the border was a result of the actions of the Thai military that turned Thailand's internal problems into a dispute with Cambodia.
Interestingly, the Cambodian media did not touch on the ever-changing positions of Hun Sen regarding proposed negotiations between the two countries. In July, Phnom Penh wanted to Asean to vet the Thai-Cambodian conflict at the Singapore meeting but Thailand opposed the idea saying that they should solve it using bilateral mechanism. Then Hun Sen proposed that the matter should go to the United Nations. Later on, he backtracked. Not long after that, he suggested a mediator should be introduced to help ease the tension. That too was later trumped by another idea of a third party. So far, his views have not got broad support. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made it clear that the issue should be settled bilaterally.
Somehow, Thailand could not match the sophistication of Cambodia's information machinery. Now that the border tension has calmed down, concerned Thai authorities have the opportunity to look back and assess their responses. They have to come to grips with their huge weakness and information loopholes.
First of all, the Thai army still lacks the kind of coordination that could produce rapid response to news reports and disseminating their responses speedily and efficiently. Soldiers in the field are still hostile towards the media's enquiries, creating the impression that they did not trust them and therefore, have something to hide. Phnom Penh-based journalists had access to information at the border's disputed areas, much to the chagrin of Thai journalists.
This weakness has led to the second problem. The information the Foreign Ministry and media obtained from the Thai border was piecemeal and not comprehensive and sometimes inaccurate. For instance, on October 15, the Thai media knew through military sources that fighting had erupted at Phu Ma Khua, which is located on the western side of the Preah Vihear Temple. As it turned out, several kilometres away on the eastern side of the temple, exchange of fire also occurred at Pha Mo E Daeng.
To ensure fast, accurate and systematic news and information dissemination, a media team should be established at the Thai-Cambodian border to deal with information gathering and sharing during the time of crisis. During the Cambodian conflict, the Foreign Ministry set up a regional office at Aranyaprathet to help the Thai armed forces and other government agencies to coordinate with the Cambodian side.
It was interesting to note that before the exchange of gunfire on October 15 afternoon, Nor Namhong called Sompong in the morning and praised the peaceful situation along the border. He also praised Hun Sen for his softer attitude and the appeal for peace. As Sompong was giving a press conference on the same afternoon to report on the progress on Thai-Cambodian talks two days earlier, Sompong found out that fighting had already erupted. He was upset.
Finally, Thai military officials must allow local journalists and Bangkok-based foreign correspondents to have access to the border. Quite often, Thai soldiers on the ground had knee-jerk reactions to journalists covering the conflict. Better handling of the media would go a long way to fight future rounds of the information war.
While the Thai army has shown many weaknesses, it does show some strength and maturity by displaying the utmost restraint. With its overwhelming firepower and greater number of soldiers, the Thai army has chosen to respond to the tension in proportionate ways without any threat of using heavy weapons.
12 comments:
Thais must go back to their ancestral homeland in southern China! Stop stealing Khmer lands, homes, temples and culture!
Cambodia has nothing to hide, when you're telling the truth, information flow.
"While the Thai army has shown many weaknesses, it does show some strength and maturity by displaying the utmost restraint. With its overwhelming firepower and greater number of soldiers, the Thai army has chosen to respond to the tension in proportionate ways without any threat of using heavy weapons."
Reason for restraint was your soldiers got so scared and pissed in their pants.
While the Thai army has shown many weaknesses, it does show some strength and maturity by displaying the utmost restraint. With its overwhelming firepower and greater number of soldiers, the Thai army has chosen to respond to the tension in proportionate ways without any threat of using heavy weapons.
It's because they know they can't win......it will make things worse....you think the cambodian would just sit and let the thais shoot them.....once the big guns fire in anger there will be no turning back for both sides.......
It does not matter what happend on the front line, Thai army as well the journalist such as the Nation and Bangkok Post alway telling lie. Cambodia alway insist of Thai moving all their troop back to prior July 15, 2008. There is nothing too complicate, just move the damn Thai troop. Any troop movement after July 15th are in Khmer land, and that is called invasion. You invade other country is wrong, but it does not mater because is not a law respect country!
Hey Jerk, Kavi Chongkitthavorn, not just you but most of your siamese people especially your stupid, greedy and interantionally outlaw government, are the same, thieves, liar and piece of shit.
This jerk now confessed that his nation's nature is thievery,liar, cheater, power-fighting etc. These siamese people not only do everything to cheat international community but also to their own race for instand this jerk, Kavi Chongkitthavorn and others are told a lie by the their own ROYAL government.
He wrote as if he knows a lot about the case. But let me tell him that he is still seen foolish with this article of his because he still fooled around by the siames government as we can see almost none is relibale information. This is the nature of this nation!
I quoted him "Interestingly, the Cambodian media did not touch on the ever-changing positions of Hun Sen regarding proposed negotiations between the two countries".
Ever changing HIS HEAD! why he never mentioned about siamese government's cheap-sketch negotiation tactic? Which I do not need to raise up again becuase it is the 360'degree maneuver to play trick with international community.
My comment is not to mean that I am Pro-Hun Xen but I am based on the fact and I put my country's interest the most important.
Kavi Chongkitthavorn acknowledges that the Thai media do not get accurate information from the border. So the way they write they should be careful too. They should not jump into conclusion with evident. For instance, the case of Thai soldiers were captured, it was Reuters Photos, not from Cambodia soldiers. And it was clear that the Thai army who move into the region first, before Cambodian soldier responding with its own troupes. He said it was Hun Sen who changed his position with the border situation. It was from Thai side that always postpone the meeting so far. They moves the soldiers in without asking its parliament but when negotiating about reduce the number of soldiers, they need parliament approval.
* correction... They should not jump into conclusion without evidences.
Does anybody see pieces of shit coming out of the mouth of this Thai jerk?
Raja
Reason why Thia soldiers didn't allow the journalists to go in was because they need to cover up their trails. That's the act of a guilty nation. Cambodia has nothing to hide. We encourage all journalists to come and see for themselves. And tell the world what actually happened there.
List of Facts needed to find solutions/mechanisms to cure all of these chronic diseases:
-Corruption:
From streets to offices in the gov.t sectors. The tops seek big bribe from the subordinates in exchange for them to sustain their positions or those subordinates will be out off their posts in just a second. Like a project: the top demands the subordinate to pay the bribes regularly as a common practice-the subordinates bribe people in higher position. The root of the corruption is that the tops nearly many of them don’t even receive formal education. Those took power in office and you say why such people with this low quality are willing to let go of their positions easily? that’s why the expertises all end up jobless if they prove more capable or speak up against their supervisors. And you can tell working with low IQ and demand you follow their orders unquestionably? That reflects their poor, ignorant management as a system to improve for all. However, upgrading a system for all is not their concern-even a bit. How to sustain and keep their posts and power is actually what gives them headache. That is why the powerful people rarely blame their officers and demand they be prosecuted! (Rule of law????) One more evidence to prove that corruption in Cambodia will never any soon be solved is that khmer people can see that the top arranged their sons&daughters to marry each other to lay an even unbreakable foundation to hold on tight to power. They planned and acted well not to leave any room for mistakes that can harm their power. They exploit each other no matter by what means to secure their system. And tell me if they ever let go of power very soon?? and tell me if you call such system of gov.t a good one?
-Power-addicted whether consciously or unconsciously:
By the system designed it is clear that the leaders are so power-addicted. They, if still with conscience, should feel overwhelmingly regretful and turn back to serve the country to make it stand tall and proud, but not with countless miseries and chaosity all every corner of the country!!!! There’s not a slightest mistake to say that their agendas are all about which party has gained more and more supporters? And never they struggle to learn in what good deeds the party has done for the people? They will treat any party that brings light for the misfortunate poor khmer people as their enemy and demand that those parties, individuals be mentally suffered or last resort be abolished!!
-Vietnamization:
look at the illegal immigrants living working freely and why isn’t it called a lawless country? Not talking about the sole so-called memorandums from only one man. What is the quality of this country system? how many heads and brains do you have? And tell me those your ministers are disqualified and incapable of doing anything-planning, taking actions or authorities to decide anything. And why one man is dying to steal the show all the time? Isn’t it authoritarians or absolute power? khmers dare to speak out about the siam encroachment along the border ,how about them living working and speaking freely their language????
5:31pm Why are you wondering around? Ask for the direction to save time...that what motorist do(get direction) in reality.
who is surprise about the thai's intention on cambodia? even history has shown their cruel and criminal intention on cambodia. so, what is new? they always forget the origin of khmerness even after they have invaded and occupied a certain part of cambodia during the dark ages and then they would use that as a pretext or excuses to legitimize their violation on cambodia, however, they often forget that the lands and territories they often invaded and occupied were originally khmer since the beginning of time, even before there is such thing as a country of thailand. and they tried very hard to masquerade that, but cambodia is too much a forth to be reckoned with for them, so they never actually succeeded in doing so. god love and bless cambodia as always. long live cambodia!
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